TikTok was launched in 2017, less than a decade ago. However, it’s hard to imagine a world without the popular social media app. And for at least 14 hours, American users experienced a preview of such a world when the US government enacted a law banning TikTok in the country unless it’s sold to a non-Chinese company.

The app has an estimated 170 million American users, including everyday people, influencers, and businesses. This large user base reflects the app’s ability to be whatever its users need it to be. TikTok users flock to the app for a variety of reasons, ranging from discovering one-pot recipes and fashion hacks to building personal connections and promoting their businesses.

The app’s rise was meteoric, gaining even more users during the pandemic when everyone’s avenues for social connections were limited. However, the US government is concerned about the national security threats that this popular app and its parent company pose.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA)

US lawmakers and security officials saw TikTok parent company Bytedance’s ties to the People’s Republic of China as a risk. They feared that the Chinese government could access TikTok data to spy on the American people, prompting them to push for The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA).

The PAFACA is a bipartisan effort introduced by Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi. The Senate then passed the law on April 23, 2024. The law required ByteDance to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner or risk having TikTok, as well as other Bytedance-owned apps, including CapCut and Lemon8, banned in the country. Additionally, Developers of app marketplaces, App Store and Google Play Store, as well as web hosting services providers also face hefty penalties if they participate in the distribution and maintenance of the identified “foreign adversary controlled applications.”

Read more about the executive order here.

Negative Reception from the Public

Even before the law was enacted, users have been actively lobbying against the TikTok shutdown. In fact, TikTok has encouraged its users to actually call their state representatives and “speak up” the ban. Content creators whose careers started with TikTok also shared their two cents about potentially losing the app and a substantial part of their income streams.

This negative reaction towards the ban is consistent with a Pew Research Survey showing that the number of Americans supporting the ban is dwindling. It’s clear that support for the app among adults, teens, and small businesses is going strong despite the potential threats that the government is worried about.

TikTok Gets Thrown a Lifeline

As ByteDance failed to sell, a Supreme Court ruling upheld the law on January 19. This meant TikTok had to shut down in the US. But ByteDance found an ally in an unlikely person–the incoming 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

President Trump, who previously supported the ban, signed an executive order giving ByteDance a 75-day extension to comply with the terms of PAFACA. While it does not overturn the impending ban, the executive order buys time for both TikTok and the incoming administration to plan their next steps.

TikTok Not Yet in the Clear

A TikTok ban in the United States is not completely off the table. The app’s immense popularity and its economic value make a great case for the app to remain available on US soil. However, PAFACA’s terms are clear: sell or stop operations. On the other hand, ByteDance has repeatedly expressed it does not plan on selling, meaning TikTok’s fate is still in limbo.

However, a lot can go on in seventy-five days. Most may happen behind closed doors, keeping the public in the dark. But we all–ordinary users, content creators, and businesses alike—are hoping for the best.