TikTok Plunges into Darkness for Millions as the Ban Hits Full Swing
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Got some exciting news for you TikTok enthusiasts! If you've been keeping tabs on the TikTok ban, you'll be happy to hear that ByteDance, the app's owner, has announced its return. This comes hot on the heels of President-elect Trump's announcement of an executive order set to lift the ban for a 90-day period.
Bursting onto your screens once more, the TikTok app now bears a rather blunt notification. Open it up, and you'll find yourself greeted by the message that it's no longer available yet, with a teaser about potential restoration thanks to President-elect Trump. Sadly, that's all you can do with the app today; the ban officially kicked off, so there's no way around it just yet.
The Truth About the TikTok Ban
After a rollercoaster of speculation, deliberation, and chatter between users and lawmakers, the ban was indeed upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday. It's no surprise then that app stores have started removing TikTok, and updating or using the app is now off-limits.
What's especially intriguing is that Apple issued a notice not just about TikTok but also other ByteDance apps like Lemon8 and CapCut. A convoluted approach, perhaps, considering the purpose of the TikTok ban was to limit or restrict usage due to concerns about data manipulation.
Some users have suggested resorting to VPNs, arguing that this might just work around the ban. After all, it's a popular method to sidestep geographical restrictions. But beware, that's potentially risky. The approach might not even work, and, what's more, it's at odds with the purpose of the ban.
How the TikTok Ban Affects Users
Speaking to Meet the Press, House Speaker Mike Johnson talked about the TikTok ban. He hinted that there may be a future deal to restore the app but emphasized that the incoming administration plans to enforce the law.
He brought up the app's influence, suggesting that it's had a detrimental impact on Americans, particularly young people. He attributed this to the content of the app, which includes promotes violence and even suicide. However, it's worth noting that the actual number of users is 170 million, not the 270 million Johnson mentioned.
In the meantime, it might be best for TikTok users to ride out the ban.
By tomorrow, we might see a change of fortune as Trump moves into office and potentially delays the TikTok ban. He's known for his fondness for deals, and Johnson himself mentioned that.
Enrichment Data:
After months of speculation, deliberation, and pontificating by users and lawmakers, the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday. No surprise then that the app stores have now removed TikTok and you can't update or even use the app anymore.
In an unprecedented move, Apple issued a notice about not just the TikTok app but referenced several other ByteDance apps as well such as Lemon8 and CapCut. Some users have suggested using a VPN, but that's risky at best. For starters, that approach might not even work, and it's not in keeping with the purpose of the TikTok ban, which was to limit or restrict usage due to how the federal government called into question whether ByteDance is manipulating users.
The threat by suggesting the app has influenced Americans by “flooding the minds of American children with terrible messages” including violence and even suicide. (Johnson should have said the minds of American adults as well; he also said there are 270 million users but the actual number is 170 million.)
What makes more sense for TikTok users is to wait out the ban.
By tomorrow, we might see a reversal of fortune as Trump takes office and could potentially delay the TikTok ban and work out a sale or some other compromise with Congress to restore the app. “He likes to make deals,” said Johnson.
In the realm of international bans, TikTok faces restrictions in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, India, and others, due to concerns over data privacy and security. The ban in the US has raised significant concerns about free speech and the potential impact on diverse communities that use the platform for political expression and activism. However, for users in the UK, there are no plans in the immediate future to extend the ban to consumers using the app for personal purposes such as sharing videos of cats or dancing. The UK government has already banned TikTok on government devices due to concerns about data and information security, but for personal use the app remains available without any restrictions.
Despite the Supreme Court upholding the TikTok ban, innovation in the social media sphere remains a priority. ByteDance's announcement of TikTok's return shows that companies are constantly seeking ways to navigate regulatory challenges. This episode also highlights the role of media in shaping public opinion and influencing political decisions, as debates about the app's influence and potential data manipulation dominated discussions.
