Trump to Offer TikTok 90-Day Ban Extension as Users Express Concerns

TikTok's potential shutdown raises alarms among its 170 million U.S. users, prompting influencers to voice feelings of powerlessness as the platform's fate hangs in the balance.

In a recent interview, Donald Trump stated he is likely to extend a 90-day reprieve for TikTok from an impending ban scheduled for this Sunday, a day before he is set to be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. Trump revealed to NBC News that an official announcement surrounding the TikTok situation would probably follow his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

The platform had previously issued a dire warning, stating it would "go dark" on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration intervened to halt the ban. The Supreme Court's recent affirmation of a law prohibiting TikTok operations in the U.S. mandates that its China-based parent company, ByteDance, must seek a buyer by January 19. However, ByteDance has thus far declined to pursue a sale.

TikTok expressed frustration late on Friday, noting that both the White House and the Department of Justice have "failed to provide the necessary clarity" required to ensure that service providers, crucial for the app's functioning, can continue operations. In response, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre characterized TikTok's threat to “go dark” as a misleading "stunt."

"We see no reason for actions such as those being threatened from TikTok or other companies before the new administration takes office," she asserted. Jean-Pierre emphasized that the responsibility to implement the law regarding TikTok would rest with the incoming Trump administration.

During a conversation with China's President Xi Jinping on Friday, Trump mentioned TikTok among other pivotal topics. TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is expected to attend Trump's inauguration ceremony.

U.S. national security experts have expressed concerns that Chinese spies may exploit the app to harvest data from American federal employees and contractors, a claim that TikTok has consistently denied. Following the Supreme Court's ruling, questions surrounding the app's future have intensified, leading to a wave of apprehension among TikTok users and content creators who rely on the platform for their livelihoods.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has accused the U.S. of unjustly targeting TikTok, asserting that Beijing will take necessary measures to protect its interests. The platform boasts a massive user base of 170 million Americans, many of whom are calling on Congress to block the ban, citing the value TikTok holds in engaging young voters during political campaigns.

Historically, Trump has shown support for a TikTok ban, but his stance has recently shifted, as he now acknowledges the popularity of the app during his past campaign, which garnered significant user engagement.

Under the restrictions enacted in April, TikTok is poised to be removed from app stores and hosting services imminently. Influencers and small business owners associated with TikTok have voiced distress about the irreversible impacts a ban would have on their operations.

Fashion designer Nicole Bloomgarden shared the harsh reality of the potential ban, stating, "Indirectly, TikTok was the majority of my income because all brands want their stuff to be promoted on the app." While TikTok did not clarify what it means by potentially "going dark," historical precedents in other countries, like India's ban on TikTok following geopolitical tensions, illustrate the extensive impacts a ban could impose, dramatically altering the social media landscape.