The popular entertainment app TikTok shut down in the United States before reopening; the possibility that TikTok could stop being updated or be removed from the app store completely remains.

In March 2024, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was passed by Congress in an attempt to ban TikTok. President Donald Trump, not originally a fan of the social media app, has asked the court to delay the ban until he takes office. According to a CBS News interview, Trump stated he has a warm spot for the app since he won the youth vote by 34 points in the 2024 election due to its influence. CBS News reports Congress was concerned that the popular social media app presented a national security risk. Many believed that ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, could be collecting data from its users for the Chinese government. There have been conversations of Americans buying ByteDance, but the company is not interested in selling. According to USA Today, the popular social media app could stick around for a little longer due to Senator Ed Markey, who announced his plan to extend the ban by an additional 270 days, but there are expressed worries from Congress about its American users on TikTok and how China could possibly influence Americans through their content.

Many content creators on TikTok would lose their jobs and be forced to move over to other platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Downloads of a similar Chinese app Xiaohongshu, known in the states as Rednote, are on the rise as many TikTok users are flocking to it in preparation for the potential ban. On Jan. 18, TikTok services were shut down but were restored the morning of Jan. 19 due to a 90-day extension from Trump. According to CNN, Trump is looking for 50-50 ownership with ByteDance and a new American owner to keep TikTok in the United States permanently.