In January 2025, TikTok faced a significant challenge in the United States due to national security concerns. The U.S. government mandated that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. This led to a temporary shutdown of the app on January 18, 2025, leaving millions of American users without access.
APNEWS.COM
The following day, TikTok began restoring its services after President Donald Trump announced plans to delay the enforcement of the ban by 75 days through an executive order. This extension was intended to provide ByteDance with additional time to negotiate a sale or restructuring of its U.S. operations to address the government’s security concerns.
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Despite the app’s reinstatement, many U.S. users reported noticeable changes in their TikTok experience. Some observed increased content moderation, with fewer livestreams and more flagged content. Others noted limited search results and warnings about misinformation. TikTok attributed these issues to temporary instability and stated that there had been no changes to its policies or algorithms.
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The situation remains fluid as ByteDance continues negotiations to comply with U.S. regulations. One notable proposal came from Perplexity AI, suggesting a merger that would grant the U.S. government up to a 50% stake in a new entity formed from TikTok’s U.S. business. This structure aims to address security concerns by reducing Chinese ownership and increasing U.S. oversight.
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As discussions progress, TikTok users in the U.S. are advised to stay informed about potential changes to the platform’s availability and functionality. The evolving landscape underscores the complex interplay between technology, national security, and international relations.