On January 19, TikTok was legally banned in the United States for less than 24 hours for manipulation in content and access to users’ data, but was temporarily reinstated after intervention from the executive branch.
TikTok is a widely known social media platform that has over 1,925 billion users globally.
In a statement, Rhode Island senator Jack Reed explained that the ban was first brought up by President Donald Trump when he first went into office. It wasn’t just brought up, though, Trump said he wanted it banned: “In 2020, Trump signed Executive Orders banning companies from transactions with TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and another ordering ByteDance to divest itself of U.S. operations.” After the 2020 executive order, there were no real consequences. TikTok continued operations as usual, but fears about ByteDance having access to people’s data/information and manipulating content continued. U.S. officials fear that ByteDance could use TikTok to influence the public and maybe even spread false information.
Rumors about the app being banned circulated regularly on the app starting with the 2020 executive order, but they always proved to be just rumors. The rumors made many people not believe that the 2025 ban was true until it was actually happening, leaving everyone confused when the ban started.
In March 2024, Congress passed a “sell or ban” bill, which was then passed by the Senate and signed by then President Joe Biden in April. The law gave TikTok and its companies a January 19 deadline to cut ties with the China-based companies.
Before Trump became President, he was trying to help TikTok anyway he could, including asking the Supreme court to put a pause on the ban when the case came their way in January and meeting with people related to the case.
According to CBS news “President-elect Trump is meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate, according to sources familiar with the meeting.”
Even though the ban was short, people were frustrated with it.
Before the ban started people on TikTok were saying their goodbyes and saying where they could find them after the app was banned.
Junior Hailey Neeley says, “[If TikTok gets banned] I think I will go to Red Note.”
Neeley is not alone. RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, is basically the same app as TikTok but it is in Mandarin. During the short ban, a lot of people who used TikTok went to RedNote right away.
Hours before the ban happened TikTok sent everyone a notification to their screen saying “We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19 and force to make our services temporarily unavailable. We’re working to restore our services in the U.S. as soon as possible, and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned,” which confirmed the ban was taking place in a couple of hours.
Once the ban was in effect, users saw another message: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
TikTok then went dark for people living in the U.S around 10 p.m.
TikTok was banned for less than 24 hours when Trump went into office on Jan. 20 and issued an executive order that postponed the ban for 75 days. USA Today says, “The order granted a 75-day extension, which Trump said will allow him to consult with his advisors and heads of ‘relevant’ departments and agencies to address national security concerns posed by TikTok.”
Capcut and Lemon8 were also banned for the time being because they are owned by the TikTok company, but they are also back up with TikTok.
Some people, like Senator Reed, are wary of Trump’s change of stance on the app.
According to the Statement from Senator Reed, “Americans are busy and there’s a lot going on right now, but it’s worth remembering that President Trump was for the TikTok ban before he was against it. Since he initiated the ban, Chinese control over the app didn’t change, but apparently President Trump now thinks the Chinese government can be trusted.”
Many people appreciate the fact that Trump delayed the ban, but feel it was nonessential to ban it in the first place, and point out that people use the social media app as a way to make a living.
Neeley says “I think that the TikTok ban is stupid because [the app] honestly is just helpful for many adults and creators [to make money].”
Not only do adults post videos to make money on the app, but teenagers or really anyone enjoy watching the videos they post.
Neeley says “[It’s a] safe place [for teens]. it’s been in our lives our whole life so it’s like taking something out of [our lives so] drastically and so fast like why would you do that?”
The executive order established a 75 day delay until Trump’s administration confirms or denies the ban. But for right now TikTok has been up and back in the app store, and Trump seems optimistic about making a deal for the app to be sold and continue operating in the US.
According to Politico, Trump stated his optimism in a February press conference: “It will be to China’s advantage to have the deal be made.”
The delay is due to expire April 5.
