[TikTok logo. Photo credit to Pixabay]

TikTok’s ban in the United States was reversed within 12 hours of implementation.

Known as one of the most influential applications in the current technological era, TikTok is a social media platform used worldwide. 

However, despite its popularity, numerous national security concerns have prompted government scrutiny of its potential risks.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the House of Representatives identified three potential security threats associated with the application.

Two of these concerns - the Chinese government’s alleged collection of American personal data and potential manipulation of U.S. politics - were deemed less critical.

While TikTok has faced criticism for its role in spreading misinformation, particularly regarding the Gaza Strip conflict, experts note that such issues stem from user behavior rather than the platform itself.

Furthermore, CSIS reports indicate that China would gain minimal strategic advantage from collecting personal information.confirmed that there are no actual benefits China gains once they have the personal information. 

However, the third concern proves more substantial: security experts warn that downloading TikTok could potentially introduce malicious software from China onto users’ devices.

These security discussions culminated on January 11, 2025, when according to the BBC, the Supreme Court indicated support for legislation that would ban TikTok in the United States unless it was sold before January 19, 2025. 

Despite the lawyers refuting that the ban would violate free speech protections, TikTok voluntarily ceased operations on January 19, 2025, just hours before President Trump’s inauguration.

The ban’s impact reverberated across various sectors of society.

While not requiring immediate deletion of the app, the prohibition on updates would have eventually rendered it unusable.

In an era so focused on promotions through widespread interactions available through social media, it particularly affected small enterprises relying on the platform for promotion and customer engagement.

“TikTok gave me financial independence,” content creator Chloe Joy Sexton told the BBC.

“This ban would place these women, myself included, in true financial jeopardy.”

In an unexpected development, President Trump quickly signed an order to reinstate TikTok’s operation in the United States. 

According to The Associated Press, lifting the ban would benefit President Trump significantly by helping him gain favor with younger voters, who are typically heavy users of social media platforms like TikTok.

While many celebrate the platform’s return, questions linger about TikTok’s future in the United States.