TikTok will be banned Sunday. Trump wants to keep TikTok. The app will go dark Sunday. It’s this and that and that and this.
TikTok’s future is uncertain as the looming U.S. ban is set to take effect Sunday. The Supreme Court upheld the law passed in April that gave the Chinese company ByteDance 270 days to sell TikTok or it would no longer be offered in U.S. app stores Friday. The Biden administration says it will not enforce the law prior to president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday. However, ByteDance claims U.S. users will not be able to use the app Sunday, regardless of whether the law is enforced.
With all this back and forth, users are confused about what will happen Sunday, but one thing is certain – the app should stay.
U.S. lawmakers cite ByteDance’s ability to sell U.S. users’ information to the Chinese government as their reason for removing it from app stores, but there is no proof that this is happening. The company repeatedly denied sharing user data with the Chinese government and has implemented measures such as storing U.S. user data on servers outside of China. In fact, TikTok’s data collection practices are no more invasive than those of American social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, both of which have faced their own controversies regarding user privacy.
The potential ban also raises serious First Amendment concerns. TikTok has become a platform for free expression, empowering millions of Americans to share their opinions, participate in political discourse and engage in other creative outlets. Restricting access to the app would effectively silence countless voices and limit the ability of individuals to express themselves online. The Supreme Court’s job is to interpret the constitution, and its upholding of this law could set a dangerous precedent for government interference in the online space.
The broader issue with the TikTok ban isn’t just about privacy — it’s about power. TikTok’s massive influence, particularly among young Americans, has made it a cultural and political force. From shaping music trends to amplifying social movements, the app has become a place for young people to find their niche with groups of other like-minded individuals. For some lawmakers, that influence—coupled with its Chinese ownership—represents a perceived threat, but completely banning the app is an overreach and abuse of power, especially when there are other ways to address national security concerns.
Instead of forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok or remove it from app stores, policymakers should actually work to pass legislation that would protect data privacy because it’s not just ByteDance that poses a threat to security. A broader law that holds all tech companies — domestic and foreign — accountable for how they handle user data would not only address concerns about TikTok but also set a standard for the entire industry. Banning TikTok without addressing the larger systemic issues sends the message that this is less about user protection and more about political agendas.
TikTok is more than an app – it’s a community. Millions of users, from small creators to major brands, rely on it as a platform for creativity, connection and commerce. Shutting it down doesn’t just silence those voices — it also sets a troubling precedent for how governments interact with technology and free expression. If the U.S. is serious about protecting its citizens, the solution isn’t to take TikTok away but to ensure that all platforms operate transparently and responsibly.
As Sunday approaches, the fate of TikTok might still hang in the balance, but the larger conversation about data privacy, censorship and digital freedom is only just beginning. Lawmakers owe it to the public to address these issues with nuance and clarity — not with a rushed ban that leaves millions of users in the dark.
