A Countdown Clock for TikTok

By Zack Qasemi

June 25, 2024

The U.S. government is moving towards banning TikTok due to suspicion that ByteDance, the company behind the app, may be collecting and potentially selling users' personal information. The ban is gaining momentum, with 34 states already on board. After approval from the House and Senate, President Biden signed the bill into law in late April, which will enact a nationwide ban on the app unless TikTok is sold to a different company.

The TikTok ban was first raised in September 2020 by means of the Trump administration. This was due to concerns about countrywide security and widespread privacy. Mainly, those apprehensions had been raised due to the suspicion that the Chinese company that owns TikTok, ByteDance, is potentially tracking and selling users’ personal information through the app, and spying on U.S. Citizens. However, some argue that the app is only under scrutiny because of the history between the U.S. and China and that other American-owned companies have done exactly what TikTok is being accused of. Dr. Fogarty, Jericho’s Director of Technology, stated, “Google has been sued for collecting data on children and we still let them do business.”  Originally, the ban was set to be implemented on September 20th, but was briefly postponed due to negotiations for a buyout of TikTok's U.S. operations through American groups like Microsoft and Oracle. In order to continue running in the United States, TikTok had to be sold to a willing company to buy it. However, in 2022, the Biden administration imposed stricter guidelines on the app, bringing up even greater records of breaches in security and safety problems with data. TikTok has been exposed to elevated scrutiny and tracking from the U.S. Government. On April 24, 2024, Joe Biden passed the official bill that will ban TikTok from the United States. Now, the owners of TikTok face the same choices as they did a few years ago: find a company that is willing to buy the app within the span of six months, or risk being banned in the U.S.

⁤Since the passing of the TikTok ban bill, users of the app have expressed dissatisfaction and anger. ⁤⁤Specifically, many believe that prohibiting the app is a violation of freedom of speech. ⁤⁤Furthermore, many small corporations and businesses make a living using TikTok; banning the app will increase the struggle of creating income for these groups. In the long run, however, Dr. Fogarty stated, “I don’t think it will have a significant impact because something will most likely pop up to replace it. It will probably be like when Facebook changed its news algorithm. Some content creators will suffer, others will adapt. It’s just like when Vine was shut down.TikTok is just a knockoff of Vine, so some knockoff of TikTok will emerge and it will be like TikTok never existed.” ⁤⁤

The fear of termination may be entirely erased if a company succeeds in purchasing the app. Some possibilities include Microsoft, Oracle, Walmart, and possibly both Meta or Google. ⁤⁤Interestingly, many celebrities have even considered buying the app, including Elon Musk, Kevin O'Leary (from the show Shark Tank), Bobby Kotick (former Activision-Blizzard CEO), and Steven Mnuchin (former Trump Administration Treasury Secretary). ⁤⁤As the controversy over the TikTok ban continues, there is a high chance that one of the mentioned organizations or celebrities will purchase the app, resulting in a shift inside the public's and government’s perception. Perhaps users may feel more stable about the app's future and the government will get rid of the risk of information being leaked, stolen, or sold. ⁤⁤Additionally, with new ownership in place, there can be updates and improvements made to TikTok a good way to benefit both users and small groups alike. As of now, TikTok has gone to court with the government over violation of the freedom of speech and intends to sue, adding an extra layer of hope to those who want the app to stay. According to Dr. Fogarty, “I think TikTok has a pretty good case. TikTok is already trying to sue, and it already has thrived in other countries. There’s a pretty reasonable chance that they would win. I think it probably won’t get banned…Even if they do lose, in a few months, another app will take its place”

TikTok has integrated itself into the daily lives of countless individuals. For some it is a source of entertainment while for others it is a moneymaker. Some people believe that the ban is a breach of freedom of expression, while others note that it is necessary for privacy. Nonetheless, it occupies a significant part in American society, and with a chance of a buyout from outside companies, it may continue to shape our way of thinking, earning money, and perceiving certain topics.