TikTok Potential Ban in 2025 - Insights Gleaned Thus Far
In a recent development, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has warned that TikTok could be banned in the United States if China fails to approve a deal giving Americans majority control of the app's technology and algorithm. Lutnick emphasised the importance of removing TikTok from Chinese control, as the app is installed on approximately 100 million American phones, a situation that the U.S. government finds unacceptable.
The deadline for this deal is fast approaching, with China needing to approve the sale by September 17, 2025, or risk having the app forced offline in the U.S. Lutnick clarified that while this issue might come up informally during trade talks with China, it is not formally part of those discussions.
The potential ban of TikTok has its roots in 2020 when President Trump attempted to get the app banned on national security grounds. However, Trump has indicated that he will work with TikTok to reinstate the app once he takes office. If a sale of TikTok to an American owner is not made by the deadline, the app risks being banned in the U.S., and intermediary companies such as Apple and Google would be required to stop providing access to the app.
The new, separate application for TikTok's U.S. users is planned to launch in September. This move towards American ownership may have been influenced by Trump's potential for reaching younger voters through the platform, as he garnered over three million followers within two days of joining in July 2024.
Lutnick's statements reinforce the U.S.'s firm stance that TikTok will face a ban unless ownership/control by Chinese ByteDance is significantly reduced or eliminated by mid-September 2025. The upcoming discussions between Trump and China regarding TikTok are scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
[1] The Information. (2021). TikTok's US users could be cut off by September if China doesn't approve a deal. [online] Available at: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tiktoks-us-users-could-be-cut-off-by-september-if-china-doesnt-approve-a-deal
[2] CNBC. (2021). U.S. Commerce Secretary warns TikTok could be banned if China doesn't approve deal. [online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/27/us-commerce-secretary-warns-tiktok-could-be-banned-if-china-doesnt-approve-deal.html
[3] Fox News. (2021). TikTok could be banned in the US if China doesn't approve deal: Commerce Secretary. [online] Available at: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tiktok-could-be-banned-in-us-if-china-doesnt-approve-deal-commerce-secretary
[4] The New York Times. (2021). Trump Says He Has a Deal on the Sale of TikTok. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/technology/trump-tiktok-sale.html
[5] Reuters. (2021). U.S. Commerce Secretary warns TikTok could be banned if China doesn't approve deal. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tiktok-idUSKBN2E32PJ
- The U.S. government's potential ban of TikTok, due to concerns over its Chinese ownership, could significantly impact social-media-based entertainment, as the app has over 100 million users in the United States alone.
- The looming deadline for TikTok to sell its technology and algorithm to American investors has amplified discussions about the role of technology in social media and its potential consequences on entertainment platforms.