TikTok Faces Shutdown in the U.S.: Millions Rattled by the App’s Unknown Future

Graphic by Minsu Kim

TikTok, the popular short-form video app with over 170 million daily American users, was shut down in the U.S. on Jan. 19, 2025, following national security concerns. It sparked significant political, economic, and social problems for millions of users and creators. The U.S. government made an audacious decision in response to an ongoing fight with another party, impacting millions worldwide. 

The TikTok ban debate was initiated in 2020 when Trump issued executive orders against ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok. Trump suspected a threatening risk that ByteDance could send over information from American users, such as location data and personal contacts, to the Chinese government. He feared this data collection could serve as a tool for China to manipulate and spy on the Americans, making the app a national security threat. 

When Biden replaced Trump in office in 2021, Biden revoked Trump’s ban and instead ordered an investigation to determine whether or not TikTok posed a legitimate threat to the United States’ security. Despite ByteDance’s refutations, China’s unrestricted access to US data was exposed in a BuzzFeed News investigation, along with over 80 leaked audio recordings of internal TikTok meetings revealing the company’s access to users’ private information.

While TikTok has been a politically controversial topic, it has also been a topical subject among citizens because of its widespread usage, propelling many to actively voice their opinions and advocate against banning the app. The entire TikTok community coming together to protest and share their grievances demonstrates the sheer influence of TikTok on social media culture. Losing such a dominant platform will be detrimental, as it not only was an entertainment platform, but also a space to share creativity, vulnerability, advocacy, and business opportunities. Ultimately, it is a modern form of cultural expression and integration, and cutting it off risks harming the interconnectedness and cross-connections TikTok allowed for millions of Americans to make. 

“I feel disconnected. I feel cut off from the world and my community,” internet personality James Charles, said, reflecting the widespread sense of loss. Creators who had spent years building their fanbases were now faced with an uncertain future and without a main platform to promote their content on.

However, on January 20, Trump reversed his position and suspended its ban for 75 days “to allow [his] Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.” This has spread hope among the social media community that such prolongation may result in a long-term deal to keep TikTok running in the US.  

Although President Trump has vowed to become TikTok's savior, the app's future remains quite ambiguous. ByteDance will most likely still be forced to sell the app to a third party. This has provoked many rumors as to who the next owner might be, egged on by their CEO, Shou Zi Chew, who recently posted about meeting with people including Elon Musk and content creator Mr. Beast. TikTok, serving as a platform that generates the incomes of millions of content creators all across the globe, has served as a vital source of financial flow for many. Therefore, even if the app is to be banned for good, most have stated that they would do their best to find bypasses, including using VPNs, which can change the IP location of devices to bypass regional bans. 

As a small act of “rebellion” against the government, there has also been a significant increase in U.S. users of the Chinese app ‘RedNote’. Deemed the “next TikTok”, people have started to switch over to the app to “do exactly what the government was afraid of”, trying to provoke a response from the government. 

While concerns over privacy and national security remain at the heart of the debate, TikTok’s influence on global culture, community-building, and economic opportunity cannot be ignored. The platform has transformed the digital landscape, providing millions of users with a means of self-expression, business growth, and social connectivity. The ongoing legal and political battles over its presence in the U.S. highlight a broader issue: the struggle to balance technological advancement with government oversight in an increasingly interconnected world. Whether TikTok continues to thrive under shifting political tides or faces further restrictions, its role in shaping digital communication and economic mobility will leave a lasting impact. As the U.S. government weighs the future of the app, it must also consider the voices of its citizens—creators, businesses, and everyday users—who have come to rely on TikTok as more than just entertainment, but as an essential part of their lives.