By Ben Udstuen
Over the past couple of years, and more recently gaining attention, TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, has been the centerpiece of a geopolitical battle. The United States government has targeted TikTok over national security concerns, data privacy, and foreign influence. TikTok’s accessibility in the U.S. is going through many legal challenges, legislative actions, and executive interventions. As of January 2025, TikTok is still operational within the U.S., but its future within the nation is not guaranteed.
The government’s concerns over TikTok start mainly through its ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese company subject to China’s cybersecurity laws. The worries are that users’ data is potentially being accessed by the Chinese government. This could lead to manipulation of users, where TikTok could release certain information that gives a narrative that favors the Chinese government. In April 2024, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance to suppress U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. This is one of the most aggressive legislative moves to date targeting a major social media platform. It was instituted as a way to protect national security, but ByteDance challenged it, arguing that it violated free market principles and international business agreements.
As the January deadline neared, ByteDance’s challenge climbed to the Supreme Court. On January 17, 2025, the Court upheld the legislation, with an emphasis on the federal government’s authority to act in the interest of national security. Responding, TikTok suspended its services to U.S. users on January 18, 2025. The decision was a shock to TikTok’s over 150 million users in the U.S., many of whom use the platform for commerce. Just days later, however, Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing TikTok a 75-day extension to negotiate a resolution. The temporary return allowed users to resume operations in the nation. Trump’s reasoning is for a more reasonable approach to balance security concerns.
The benefits of the ban would be felt greatly by Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Snap Inc. the owner of Snapchat. The users would migrate more of their attention to these apps with the absence of TikTok. The temporary ban has introduced hesitation among advertisers and investors, who are cautious of committing money while TikTok’s fate is uncertain. Millions of users rely on TikTok as a platform for sharing content, building communities, and earning an income. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argues that banning TikTok sets a dangerous precedent by infringing on citizens’ First Amendment rights. The platform is a public way for voices and communities to find representation, and the lack of TikTok could take away these opportunities.
The entire situation with TikTok is essentially a representation of the tech rivalry between the U.S. and China. Both nations are competing for dominance in artificial intelligence, social media, and other new technologies. America’s attack on TikTok is part of a strategy to reduce reliance on others’ technology, rather than our own. The problem also highlights the challenge of balancing the ability of platforms to thrive in an interconnected world. TikTok is in over 150 countries worldwide and reaches a multitude of cultures, and environments.
The TikTok ban shows the beginning of the complexity in balancing national security with economic interests, and individual rights in our current day and age. While the 75-day extension allows a period to negotiate, the questions about data privacy, foreign influence, and independence from other nations are still unresolved. The outcome will likely lead to precedents that affect our nation for years to come.
Ben Udstuen is a student at Spring Grove High School, and one of 15 area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 26th year.
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