Understanding the TikTok ban: Here’s the latest news

Updated – Originally published January 14, 2024

After all the legal back and forth, TikTok’s future in the United States seems safe—for now. 

Here’s what you should know about the TikTok ban, plus the new U.S. TikTok.

The TikTok ban timeline

January 2026

ByteDance strikes a deal with a group of “non-Chinese investors,” according to The New York Times, “to create a new U.S. TikTok.”

April 4, 2025

President Donald Trump announced he will be signing a new executive order extending the TikTok deadline by an additional 75 days, saying the deal “requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed.”

January 21, 2025
During his inauguration, President Trump proposed the U.S. taking a 50% stake in TikTok as part of a joint venture and warned China against blocking the deal.

January 20, 2025
President Trump signed an executive order delaying TikTok’s nationwide ban for 75 days, granting ByteDance time to negotiate a resolution or divest U.S. operations.

January 19, 2025
TikTok went offline for over 12 hours as the nationwide ban took effect but was restored later the same day following President Trump’s announcement of a delay.

January 10, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), with justices expressing support for the law citing national security concerns.

December 16, 2024
The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the law requiring TikTok’s divestment or ban, emphasizing the government’s national security concerns over TikTok’s arguments.

Is there a difference between U.S. TikTok and the old TikTok?

So far, it looks like U.S. Tiktok will be relatively the same as old TikTok. According to The New York Times, “It was unclear how much, if anything, the deal will change the experience for TikTok’s users in the United States.”

Reportedly, some users are worried that the new owners will revamp TikTok’s algorithm, which could significantly change their personal feeds. But so far, there’s been no signs of any changes.

However, the news hasn’t quelled TikTok naysayers. As The New York Times notes, “experts have cautioned that the arrangement may fail to address the national security concerns.”

According to PBS, the recent announcement said that U.S. TikTok will “retrain, test and update the algorithm.”

Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told PBS, “The real concern here isn’t the data that it’s being trained on. It’s what the algorithm is emphasizing or censoring.”

On the other hand, other experts told PBS that “this deal does protect Americans.”

PBS continues, “They say that there will now be multiple layers of oversight for American users’ data, for the algorithm and the TikTok app.”

Other TikTok concerns

Though the Supreme Court discussions are focused on these issues, TikTok’s rapid rise has also sparked additional concerns about its impact on mental health and well-being—especially for teens. 

Research links excessive social media use to increased anxiety, depression, and attention disorders.

The bigger picture

This isn’t just about TikTok. It’s part of a larger conversation about how social media affects us. These platforms are designed to keep us scrolling, often at the expense of meaningful connections. 

Teens, in particular, are vulnerable to the pressures of curated content, which can lead to unrealistic expectations, heightened anxiety, and difficulty focusing—issues common across many social media platforms.

Looking ahead

Since this TikTok deal is still new, we’ll have to wait and see if there will be any changes to the app. As always, it doesn’t hurt to check up on your kids about their TikTok usage. 

If you’re worried, you can ask your kids about the type of content they see on TikTok.

What do you think? Do you feel like the new U.S. TikTok will keep your kids safe? Or do you still have safety concerns? Let us know in the comments!