Many in the US are scared for the future of the video-sharing platform TikTok with Congress deciding on a ban. The “TikTok ban” instituted on January 19th, 2025, has made the app much harder to access. It can no longer be downloaded via the Apple app store and many other mobile device marketplaces. Users who still have the app downloaded on their device can access the site, as can those on computers.

The newly inaugurated President Trump has confirmed his stance on TikTok, supporting a possible unbanning of the app due to its impact on the US economy. He has stated that his campaign used TikTok in their successful bid to win the 2024 election.

Lawmakers in Congress have been reiterating the possible national security threat posed by an app with heavy Chinese backing but many seem to not care. Many teens in the US are livid at the idea of the ban going so far as saying that they would rather take the risk of being spied on by the Chinese Communist Party. Multiple new video-sharing apps, many ran by companies with similar situations to TikTok’s Bytedance, have sprung up with many teens flocking to the platform. “We just want access to TikTok, we don’t see why the government has to interfere” was the general consensus among many.

The Supreme Court has upheld the TikTok ban although there are doubts on the application of this ruling.

As of February 2025, TikTok is back on the app store and available for download once again.