TikTok on the verge of being banned in the US: what will happen to the popular app?

On Monday, Donald Trump met with TikTok CEO Shaw Tzu Chu at his Mar-a-Lago residence. In a press conference after the meeting, Trump said he has «warm feelings» for TikTok and believes the platform played a key role in his campaign.

After the meeting, Trump said he had «warm feelings» for TikTok and believes the platform played a key role in his election campaign.

The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains in jeopardy, however. If Chinese company ByteDance, which owns the app, doesn't sell it to a non-Chinese buyer by Jan. 19, TikTok could be banned. The «refuse or ban» bill was signed into law in April, requiring the removal of platforms linked to foreign adversaries. TikTok has already filed an emergency injunction with the Supreme Court, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment's free speech clause.

National security or politics?

The law, backed by both parties in Congress, is based on concerns about national security. Lawmakers argue that TikTok could be passing U.S. users' data to the Chinese government. But ByteDance says no such evidence has been presented, and all U.S. users' data is already stored on servers in the U.S.

And all U.S. users' data is already stored on servers in the United States.

The attempts to regulate TikTok are causing widespread backlash. Supporters of the platform argue that it has become an important communication and business tool for millions of users, including young voters and small businesses.

Donald Trump's role in TikTok's fate

Trump's meeting with ByteDance executives has raised many questions. Some analysts speculate that Trump may see TikTok as a way to bolster his popularity among young people and small business owners. There are also discussions about the possibility of political concessions or deals that could help Trump capitalize on the situation.

Some analysts are also discussing the possibility of political concessions or deals that could help Trump capitalize on the situation.

In contrast to Trump, the Biden administration may take a tougher stance, but there's also the possibility that the ban will be extended to find a compromise solution.

What's next

If the Supreme Court doesn't intervene, TikTok will either have to comply with the new requirements or withdraw from the US market. That would open up new opportunities for competitors like Instagram and YouTube, which are actively developing TikTok analogs. However, ByteDance could still try to find a compromise, for example by agreeing to stricter data retention terms.

And ByteDance could still try to find a compromise, for example by agreeing to stricter data retention terms.

While millions of users and brands await a decision, experts believe TikTok's future will depend on political will and ByteDance's ability to offer terms that satisfy U.S. lawmakers.