The debate over banning TikTok in the United States has been a hot topic for years, with concerns ranging from national security to free speech. Now, the US government has taken significant steps toward restricting or outright banning the popular video-sharing app. TikTok is officially banned in the U.S., but it’s only banned for people who want to download the app, while those who’ve previously downloaded it can still use it. President Trump has promised Americans that he’s working to get it unbanned and hopefully purchase it from ByteDance.

TikTok is technically illegal for U.S. users, but Trump has issued an executive order holding off enforcement of a sell-off bill for 75 days. In December, A U.S. appeals court rejected TikTok’s bid to disqualify the U.S. government’s enforced sell-off bill. More recently in January, The Biden Administration said that it will not enforce the TikTok ban on Jan. 19, leaving it to Trump and his team to enact the bill as they choose. Even so, the approved law went into effect, leaving app providers with no choice but to remove TikTok in the U.S. An app called “RedNote” was pushed to #1 on app stores, replacing TikTok during its 12-hour ban. RedNote gained popularity as many TikTok creators spoke about their experiences trying out the Chinese app. Several creators even took to share videos about welcoming “TikTok refugees” to the service.

The app collects vast amounts of user data, including location, browsing habits, and biometric information. TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, stating that it stores U.S. user data outside of China to ensure its independence from the Chinese government. The TikTok debate highlights broader issues about data privacy, foreign influence, and digital freedom. Regardless of the outcome, its clear that social media regulation will remain a key issue in global politics for years to come.