Digital Media & PlatformsThe Future of TikTok

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the potential ban of TikTok in the United States. This popular social media platform, which allows users to create and share short videos, has become a cultural phenomenon among young people in the U.S. and around the world. However, concerns about national security and data privacy have led some lawmakers to call for a ban on the app.

The United States Government’s Issues with TikTok

The debate around TikTok began in earnest in 2020, when former President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would have effectively banned the app in the United States. The order cited national security concerns, claiming that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled to hand over user data to the Chinese government. ByteDance denied these allegations, but the company’s ties to China have continued to be a point of contention.

The proposed ban faced legal challenges, and a federal judge issued an injunction that prevented the Trump administration from enforcing it. However, the issue did not go away, and it has continued to be a point of debate in the U.S. government and among tech companies.

In 2021, the Biden administration has taken a somewhat different approach to the issue. Rather than attempting to ban the app outright, the administration has announced a review of the national security risks associated with TikTok and other foreign-owned apps. This review is being conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a government body that has the authority to block or require changes to mergers and acquisitions involving foreign companies.

The outcome of the CFIUS review remains to be seen, but it is clear that concerns about TikTok and other foreign-owned apps are not going away. Some lawmakers have called for stricter regulation of these apps, while others have suggested that they should be banned outright. However, there are also those who argue that a ban on TikTok would be a violation of free speech and could have negative consequences for U.S.-China relations.

Factors to Consider with Issue

There is no doubt that TikTok has become a major player in the social media landscape, with millions of users around the world. However, the debate over its future in the United States highlights the complex issues surrounding national security, data privacy, and the global tech industry. But here are a few things to consider in terms of finding a solution for TikTok’s future though:

• Could a United States-based company acquire a major stake or the entire company, solving this issue altogether?
• Could the amount of business TikTok drives for the United States economy cause the US government to abolish the ban?
• Could fear of security cause popularity of the platform to decline?
• If under a new administration after the upcoming 2024 presidential election, could our new administration have a different opinion on TikTok altogether?
• Could cybersecurity measures be put in place domestically to provide reassurance on domestic safety and meet the CFIUS’s standards?

It remains to be seen how this debate will be resolved, but one thing is clear: the future of TikTok in the United States is far from certain.