What happened to TikTok

Editor’s Note: A correction and clarification was made on 2/3/2025 regarding the Supreme Court ruling of TikTok Inc. v. Garland.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law banning the popular social media platform TikTok on Jan. 17, citing national security concerns. TikTok, owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, introduced a new emphasis on short-form media globally. Within just a year of its 2016 launch in the Chinese market the app attracted about 100 million users

TikTok launched worldwide in August 2018 and has quickly taken off as the most downloaded app worldwide from 2020 to 2022. Today, TikTok has approximately 170 million monthly users in the U.S. alone, with 59% of adults under 30 using the app for entertainment. 

The app gained popularity for its algorithm which curates a personalized “For You Page” for each user. This specialized algorithm, however, is what concerns U.S. officials — the collection and storage of American citizens’ information by a Chinese-based company.

While the app is said to pose a security threat, many small businesses rely on TikTok as their main form of exposure. TikTok is not only an entertainment platform but also a space for entrepreneurs to build their dreams. It facilitates a place for small businesses to take shape and capitalize on the app reach. In March 2024, approximately 7 million small U.S. businesses relied on TikTok Shop for profit. 

In 2020, President Donald Trump imposed sanctions to ban TikTok in the U.S., but the effort was unsuccessful. Under President Joe Biden, Congress passed a federal law to ban TikTok due to such security concerns. In response, TikTok sued Congress in TikTok Inc. v. Garland, stating that the law violates the First Amendment. The Supreme Court then unanimously determined that banning the app does not violate the First Amendment.

The app was effectively shut down in the U.S. on Jan 19. Users expected this ban to occur at midnight, but ByteDance voluntarily withdrew its services earlier in what appeared to be a retaliatory move. When users opened the app, they were met with a message reading, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”

For millions of U.S. users and creators, TikTok has become a primary source of entertainment and news, creating a community of its own where users can connect through self-expression. The app even has its own online storefront called TikTok Shop, which has recently become a popular method for online shopping. Many users have raised concerns about their pending orders, but officials have not released clear statements regarding the shop’s ban

Not only will the ban impact the shop’s consumers, but many small businesses that use the platform as their main form of revenue will also be impacted. Large tech corporations like Oracle, which served as TikTok’s U.S. server provider, will also face financial losses. Oracle is reportedly working to provide users with a way to log in to their accounts and access their own videos but not others, allowing them to save memories and information they have stored on their accounts over time.  

As TikTok’s imminent doom approached, users searched for ways to download and preserve their data, finding it important to keep in contact with others. Users mourning the loss of the platform are now branching out to new media platforms to fill the void. Many have turned to Meta’s Instagram reels and YouTube shorts. Some users have also directed their attention to Lemon8, another ByteDance-owned platform, only to find it banned as well. Others have even begun populating Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app known as RedNote, in protest of the ban. 

Unlike Trump’s stance during his 2020 presidency, he has made statements opposing the ban, though it remains unclear how the ban will be overturned or extended. Trump’s statement to save TikTok has sparked displaced hope for its return. Whether President Trump resurrects TikTok or not, there seems to be a sudden change in attention directed at him. 

Trump has also made statements about reclaiming TikTok as a resource for U.S. citizens, stating that he will likely postpone the ban for 90 days and release his decision on Monday. There is even speculation of independent parties buying the app. Although no official statements have surfaced, powerful public figures like Elon Musk and YouTube star MrBeast have alluded to their interest in purchasing the app. 

On Jan. 19, after only 12 hours, TikTok was back and running in the U.S., leaving users both overjoyed and confused. Many had believed that the app was gone forever. When the app was banned, users were prevented from scrolling and instead were shown a popup that read, “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!” This message also appeared on other Chinese apps like Lemon8. This turn of events dubbed Trump as the president that saved TikTok. 

The official ban of TikTok has sent rippling effects to the millions of U.S. users and creators as well as their engagement on other platforms. With the potential loss of such a large media platform, users are determined to preserve the sense of community TikTok has fostered. While TikTok has evaded this ban numerous times before, the question remains: Can it continue to do so? Hope is not lost, however, as many popular social media platforms have boomed and busted in the past, such as Vine and Musical.ly. As one platform dies, there is always a newer, shinier successor tailing close behind to fill its predecessor’s shoes.

Caroline Ambrose is an Arts & Entertainment Intern for the winter 2025 quarter. She can be reached at carolisa@uci.edu.

Edited by Lillian Dunn and Xinyu Zhang.

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