read backlash and concerns over the impact of the ban on users and content creators.

TikTok Ban in the U.S.: What’s Happening Now?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the ongoing issues surrounding TikTok in the United States. The popular social media app has been facing a potential ban for years, and last spring, Congress and the Senate passed a measure requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations or face shutdown. President Biden signed the measure into law, but the app’s creators argued that the ban would violate the First Amendment. However, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the ban, and it seemed like the end for TikTok in the U.S.

But now, things seem to have taken a turn. Major tech companies are vying for the chance to purchase TikTok, and the app is still up and running. So, what exactly is going on?

The Initial Push for a Ban

Initially, policymakers were concerned about the national security implications of having a Chinese-owned company, ByteDance, operating a popular social media app in the U.S. Despite criticism of this decision, the “sell or GTFO” measure was approved by both legislative chambers and signed into law by President Biden. This sparked outrage among free speech advocates, who quickly began lobbying for their day in the Supreme Court.

A Rushed Supreme Court Case

Unlike most cases that go before the Supreme Court, the TikTok team was given only two weeks to plead their case for continued existence in the U.S. Despite their arguments, the Court ultimately upheld the ban in a unanimous vote. This left TikTok with a firm deadline of January 19th to go dark, causing concern among foreign-based tech companies who saw the ruling as a potential threat to their own operations.

TikTok Goes Dark Voluntarily

In a surprising move, TikTok voluntarily went dark before the deadline, causing shock and outrage among its U.S. users. Content creators who were relying on the midnight deadline to migrate their audience and save their content were met with a pop-up message instead. This decision suggests that TikTok is willing to work with the incoming administration, and it seems to be the case as the app is now back up and running.

President Trump’s Executive Order

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order delaying the TikTok ban for 75 more days. This was in response to widespread backlash and concerns over the impact of the ban on users and content creators. As of now, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. is still uncertain, but it seems that the app is willing to work with the new administration to find a solution.

 

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