TikTok Suspended In The United States, A Severe Blow For China

Americans need to put their choreography away: TikTok is no longer accessible in the United States. A definitive situation? Not sure. Donald Trump promises to “work on a solution” to restore the app. Between a ban for national security reasons and a debate on freedom of speech, TikTok’s fate lies in the president’s hands. Dive into a saga where economy, politics, and digital influence intertwine.

TikTok banned: between national security and political maneuvering

Since Saturday, TikTok has disappeared from the digital stores of Apple and Google in the United States. A law passed in 2024 required that ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, sell the app under the threat of a ban.

Despite a last-ditch appeal, the Supreme Court has ruled: the ban is legitimate to protect the data of Americans.

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The reasons? To prevent Beijing from accessing sensitive information or manipulating public opinion. A decision applauded by some elected officials but sharply criticized by others, like Erica, quoting Senator Rand Paul:

“The TikTok ban is an infringement on the First Amendment. The majority of apps collect data, so why target TikTok?“

However, not everything is bleak for TikTokers. In the face of this blackout, YouTube has become their refuge.

Amid messages of support and new subscribers, the digital migration is well underway:

• Perez Hilton, a star of the platform, welcomed his 470,000 subscribers on YouTube;
• Other creators expressed their sadness at this suspension;
• Some see this situation as temporary, hoping for a quick return.

The 170 million American TikTok users remain suspended in the outcome of this political-economic standoff.

Donald Trump, savior or grave digger of TikTok?

On Monday, Donald Trump promised to review the situation and is considering a 90-day delay. This timeframe, however, depends on ByteDance’s willingness to give up its “gem”. For now, the company refuses to sell, despite the pressure.

Trump, who had already tried to ban TikTok during his first term, is far from unanimous. Elon Musk, for example, firmly opposes it:

“Banning TikTok goes against freedom of speech. This is not what America stands for.”

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A position that echoes the idea that such a ban could benefit X, his own platform, but to the detriment of American core values.

The debate divides: is it a matter of national security or a simple political lever? According to some critics, this ban aims to silence a generation “woke” by TikTok, sensitive to controversial themes like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Has social media become too influential for younger generations?

For now, the sale of TikTok US to Elon Musk remains uncertain. This transfer could prevent the definitive ban of the app in the United States. But between political calculations and economic stakes, the platform’s future hangs by a thread.