Explained: Why is the US banning TikTok? Can Donald Trump stop the app from becoming obsolete?

President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office on Monday said he will work with China on a range of issues including TikTok. TikTok CEO says it will 'go dark' in the US from Sunday

The United States Supreme Court has upheld a federal law calling for ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to deprive its US operation by Sunday. TikTok says that it will ‘‘go dark’’ this weekend unless it gets clarity from President Joe Biden on the Supreme Court's order.

Upholding the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act enacted in April last year, the Court highlighted that defending national security transcends freedom of expression. Enacted in 2024, the law forces ByteDance to give up its US operations or risk TikTok being removed from the app store, denying its 170 million American users the option to upgrade or download.

“TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Pierre added any measures to carry out the law will be up to the new administration as President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office on January 20.

In a social media post, Trump announced he has spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping and ‘‘together they could immediately solve many problems including TikTok’’. Trump could sign an executive order when he comes into office and delay the ban for a few more weeks. Responding to Trump's comments, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said, ‘‘I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States’’.

The predicament of the incoming Trump administration on the one hand is an aggressive 'America First' movement that wants to protect the United States from China; on the other hand, there is an anti-woke group that wants to safeguard freedom of speech.

The TikTok ban will certainly disrupt the livelihood of many who rely on this app for income and influence. Many content creators are already expressing their frustration over the ban on social media. Many Americans have now started downloading an app named 'RedNote', which again is owned by a China-based technology firm and is based on a book by former Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong.

Americans using this Chinese app are reportedly conversing about the greatness of China and learning Mandarin.  Apparently, Americans seeking refuge in this app are being referred to as ‘‘TikTok refugees’’.

TikTok has been banned in multiple nations due to national security and content regulatory concerns. India was the first Nation to ban TikTok in 2020, claiming concerns regarding data security and privacy. Pakistan has continuously slapped many restrictions on using the app. Afghanistan has banned TikTok citing it distracts young minds and encourages anti-Islamic behaviours. Indonesia and Bangladesh have also imposed a temporary ban due to censorship concerns.