TikTok, the popular social media app, has been given an ultimatum by the United States to either sell the company or shut down. The Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, has 9 months to decide on its next steps. The potential outcomes of this decision are numerous and uncertain.
One possibility is that TikTok will be sold to an American company, keeping most of its features intact. However, TikTok has expressed that they see the new law as a ban and plan to challenge it in court. The ultimate decision may fall on the Supreme Court, as it involves issues of freedom of expression.
A legal process could extend the initial 9-month period and potentially lead to developments beyond 2024. With elections on the horizon, the political landscape may also influence the outcome. For users outside the US, the impact may not be immediate but a TikTok without its large American user base would be a different platform altogether. This could affect trends, challenges and overall content on the app.
Alternatives like Reels on Instagram and YouTube Shorts are emerging as competitors to TikTok. However, there is no clear alternative yet which may result in users continuing on the platform despite its uncertain future. National security concerns have been a key driver behind regulating TikTok; questions around potential manipulation of content, access to user data and geopolitical implications have fueled debates around its regulation in various countries including China and Europe where discussions with European Commission regarding TikTok Lite are ongoing. Other countries have taken actions against TikTok for similar reasons banning it in certain regions