Popular social media app TikTok recently shut down for American users on Jan. 19 in response to Congress’s ban of the platform. However, the app resumed functionality in America just one day later after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days.
The Congressional bill that called for the ban of TikTok is known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. As described by Congress’s official website, “this bill prohibits distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application (e.g., TikTok).” The bill goes on to define these applications as controlled by ByteDance, Ltd. (the company that owns TikTok) or a social media company that is “controlled by a foreign adversary and has been determined by the President to present a significant threat to national security.”
After the Supreme Court made the decision to uphold Congress’s ban on Jan. 17, TikTok became unavailable in the United States two days later in what CBS described as “a temporary and voluntary shutdown.” The app was usable again the next day due to the executive order written by President Trump.
“As a result of President Trump’s efforts,” read TikTok’s announcement to American viewers once the app came back online, “TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
ABC News reported that the Biden Administration had made the choice beforehand to leave enforcement of the ban to Trump. According to a White House official speaking to ABC, “Our position on this has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership. Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement.”
Another article from ABC documented the attendance of Trump’s inauguration, which notably included the presence of Shou Chew, the CEO of ByteDance Ltd.
Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order calls for the attorney general to not “take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today ….” Trump wrote that this delay in the ban is necessary to “to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.” It is unclear if TikTok will remain available for Americans after the 75-day window closes.
The currenting acting attorney general of the United States is James R. McHenry III, who was appointed on Jan. 20, as noted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s website. Congress is still in the process of hearing Pam Bondi, Trump’s current pick for attorney general, as documented by NPR. Bondi “served as Florida’s attorney general for eight years, and later served as a personal attorney for then-President Trump during his first impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate,” NPR writes.
President Trump’s decision to restore the functionality of TikTok for Americans is a departure from his original stance on the issue. A 2020 article from AP News wrote that “President Donald Trump said his administration is considering banning the short video app TikTok in the U.S. as one possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus.” In an executive order released in 2020, Trump called for action to “address the threat posed by one mobile application in particular, TikTok.”
In addition to TikTok, several other apps owned by ByteDance Ltd. were also banned on Jan. 19., including social media app Lemon8, video editing tool CapCut and digital card game MARVEL SNAP, according to USA Today. When MARVEL SNAP resumed functionality, it came with the message “we’re working to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher. This is the start of a new era for MARVEL SNAP.”
Before TikTok was officially re-instated, a social media app known as Xiaohongshu exploded in popularity as American users searched for an alternative, as noted by CNN. Xiaohongshu translates to “Little Red Book” in English but is often shortened to “RedNote.”
According to CNN, “Xiaohongshu is one of China’s biggest social media platforms with 300 million users, according to research firm Qian Gua. Described as China’s answer to Instagram, the app has become especially popular for sharing tips on travel, makeup and fashion.”
Xiaohongshu also could become a new way for American and Chinese people interact in a much larger scale than seen before. CNN wrote that “The sudden migration of US users to Xiaohongshu has created an unlikely platform for Chinese and American users to interact with each other,” and “most Chinese users have warmly welcomed the newcomers.”
Although TikTok is once again available to American users, it has not returned to the U.S. permanently. The executive branch will determine if TikTok can return permanently and, if so, in what capacity it can operate in America.