The reason TikTok might get banned is because there are concerns that the Chinese governments could gain access to sensitive user data through this short-form video app. ByteDance, TikTok’s owner, denies that they would use the app to access users data.
Why did this start?
In 2020, the United States government announced that it was considering banning the Chinese social media platform TikTok upon a request from then-president Donald Trump. Trump views TikTok as a national security threat.
When is this expected to happen?
On Friday, December 6, a federal appeals court panel unanimously upheld the law that gave ByteDance nine months to either get a new owner or be banned in the US. TikTok’s owners say the law means it will be forced to sell or shut down in the US by January 19, 2025.
History of the world famous app
TikTok was released in September of 2016. TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create, watch, and share short videos. This app is known for its addictive quality and high levels of engagement. TikTok is now available in more than 150 different markets, with offices in Beijing, Los Angeles, Moscow, Mumbai, Seoul, Tokyo, and other cities.
More facts
TikTok joined the ranks of social media giants in record time. As of February 2024, it has been downloaded approximately 4.7 billion times. In 2023, there were 102.3 million users in the US. TikTok is currently banned in Bangladesh. It was briefly banned in Indonesia for “pornography, inappropriate content, and blasphemy,” but the ban was overturned a week later after the company promised to take all objectionable content off the platform and set up a local office to monitor and sanitize content.
