Okay, so like, TikTok and the U.S. are, totally in this dramatic showdown right now, and I can’t even. The Supreme Court’s gonna get involved, and it’s, like, a HUGE deal. So here’s the tea:
So, like, the Supreme Court is gonna hear arguments on January 10, 2025. The big deal is this law that says ByteDance, which is TikTok’s parent company in China, has to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025. If they don’t? Total ban! Lawmakers are, like, super freaked out that China might get access to user data.
But wait, it gets better. President-elect Donald Trump is all, “Hold up, Supreme Court, let me fix this!” He’s saying his new administration wants to, like, work out a deal that keeps TikTok around but still deals with all those security worries. BTW, this is the same guy who wanted to ban TikTok back in 2020. Now he’s like, “Free speech is sooo important,” because duh, TikTok is a vibe.
Meanwhile, TikTok is fighting back, saying this whole thing is so unconstitutional. They’re like, “170 million Americans use our app—don’t kill our vibe!” And a bunch of free speech groups are totally backing them, saying this ban would be, like, sooo 1984.
Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, told Reuters: “A ban on TikTok would set a dangerous precedent for suppressing speech on digital platforms.” OMG, right? Totally scary.
What About Countries That Said, ‘Bye, TikTok’?
Okay, so TikTok is no stranger to bans. Other countries have already done it, and the vibes are… complicated. Here’s what happened:
- India:
India banned TikTok in June 2020 after some major drama with China. They were all, “This is about security, people!” But, like, TikTok had over 200 million users there. Now it’s gone, and apps like Moj and Josh are trying to take over, but they’re just, like, not the same, you know? Creators lost big-time, and rebuilding their fanbases has been, like, such a struggle. - Pakistan:
TikTok got banned in Pakistan, like, a bunch of times between 2020 and 2022. They kept saying it was for “immoral content,” whatever that means. But every time, TikTok was like, “We’ll do better!” and the ban got lifted. It’s giving “we’re not mad, just disappointed” energy. - Afghanistan:
The Taliban banned TikTok in 2022. Their reason? Something about “immoral content,” but, like, what did they even expect? It’s TikTok—people are just trying to dance and vibe! - Other Countries:
Places like the EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand didn’t go full ban, but they’re like, “No TikTok on government devices.” Honestly, that feels like when your parents say you can’t use your phone at the dinner table.
What Did We Learn From This TikTok Tea?
So, like, when TikTok gets banned, here’s what usually happens:
- New Apps Show Up: Some other apps try to fill the TikTok-shaped hole, but, like, let’s be real—nothing slaps like TikTok’s algorithm.
- Creators Are Stressed: Influencers have to start from scratch, and that’s, like, sooo exhausting.
- Money Moves: TikTok is HUGE for ads and creators making bank. Banning it totally messes with the economy.
So, like, the Supreme Court’s decision will be EVERYTHING. If TikTok stays, it’ll probably have to change hands. If it goes, we’re all gonna have to figure out how to, like, survive without it. January 19 is the deadline, so stay tuned—it’s gonna be a rollercoaster.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
