Since the turn of the year, the prospect of TikTok being banned in the United States has raised alarms across digital communities, including those geographically far removed from the Western powerhouse. With over 170 million American users, a ban on TikTok in the country could seriously impact millions, notably influencers, content creators, artists, small business owners, and a whole range of others who depend on the platform’s creative tools, user-generated content, viral reach, and monetisation sources to make a living.

The ban was a necessity that the Joe Biden-led administration followed through with, effective January 2025, due to matters of national security. Being a subsidiary of one of China’s biggest tech firms, ByteDance, the American government had concerns about the platform trading American data with the Chinese government. As such, it had the de facto backing to enforce a ban, even after the platform filed a counter-lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the decision.

None of TikTok’s legal efforts could overturn the prospect of being banned in America unless it satisfied the condition of divesting the platform to an American firm. Having failed to meet the required condition of divestment, TikTok briefly went offline in the US on January 18 before the newly sworn-in administration of President Donald Trump issued an executive order that delayed enforcement of the ban for an additional 75 days.

A few hours before the 75 days elapsed on April 4, 2025, President Trump once again signed an executive order that delayed the ban for another 75 days in light of the unresolved divestment of the platform.

As things stand, President Trump is the only major figure standing between TikTok and its removal in the USA. The American president’s newfound support for the platform is no secret, having credited it for boosting his popularity among young voters in the last presidential election. He has also maintained that he would like to see the platform remain afloat under new ownership in the country.

In a recent interview with Fox News, he revealed that he has a group of “very wealthy people” ready to buy TikTok, though the likelihood of a deal advancing most likely hinges on “Beijing’s approval.” 

The fact that TikTok’s US takeover requires a go-ahead from the Chinese government is likely an indicator of why the situation remains unresolved.

Valued at well over $100 billion, TikTok is within reach of the world’s wealthiest men, a demographic more concentrated in the US than anywhere else.

However, the complexity of sale, particularly the geopolitical forces involved, makes it anything but straightforward

The new deadline for a resolution is September 17. It remains to be seen whether TikTok will be fully banned in the USA, as it has been in India, Iran, and Afghanistan, or if the world will witness yet another major takeover in the tech world.