TikTok is going through a real storm in the United States, with its fate hanging by a thread. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns the popular social network, will have to sell the platform to someone who is not tied to the Chinese government. Why? Well, the United States government is concerned about TikTok’s data collection and its “friendships” with the Chinese Communist Party. In short, the social network is accused of endangering national security, and the Court’s decision reflects this fear.
TikTok, of course, tried to appeal, invoking the sacred right of freedom of expression guaranteed by the American Constitution. But the appeal was rejected. And now we find ourselves at a crucial moment, which could have enormous consequences for millions of users and, let’s face it, for the geopolitics between the United States and China. In the meantime, a good number of American users are already preparing for plan B, creating accounts on REDnote, a new Chinese app that is becoming very popular in the USA.
But beware: the situation is still uncertain! TikTok’s ban is scheduled for Sunday, January 19, but just the day before Donald Trump officially takes office at the White House. And here’s where our protagonist comes into play: Trump. The tycoon has already made it known that he is ready to intervene and has declared that he will be the one to decide what to do, since Congress has given him the final say on the matter. So, TikTok could have new hope thanks to its “special relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The United States is TikTok’s largest market, with 170 million users. For many, TikTok is not just a pastime, but a real job: a source of information, marketing and earnings for content creators. If the social network were to be blocked, it would be an economic disaster for many and for the entire digital ecosystem.
Immediately after the Supreme Court’s announcement, Trump released a statement to CNN: “In the end, I am the one who decides, so you’ll see what I do. Congress has given me this responsibility, so I will take it.” The most likely solution? An executive order that delays the TikTok ban by at least 60-90 days. That way, Trump could use that time to personally intervene in the negotiations and allow TikTok to continue making Americans dance with its viral videos.
But, for now, the Supreme Court’s decision is clear: TikTok must be banned. And now the ball is in Trump’s court!
