Social Media Trends
On Friday, December 6th, US courts upheld the law signed in April by President Joe Biden banning TikTok unless it is sold to a non-Chinese owner by January 19th, 2025, one day before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. In June 2024, Trump said he would not ban TikTok but it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to undo the law once in office.
In November, the Canadian government also ordered an end to TikTok’s Canadian operations which TikTok has since filed a legal challenge over the order. There are currently over 14 million Canadians using the social media app each month.
The stated rationale behind the ban is an overarching concern for data privacy and user safety. Regulators are particularly worried about the company sharing sensitive user data with the Chinese Communist Party.
On Monday, TikTok announced they had filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop the Ban from taking effect until their appeal is heard by the US Supreme Court.
Why This Matters
Despite your personal feelings on TikTok, there is no arguing its influence on online culture, with more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide and 150 million active monthly users in the United States.
Countless small businesses and independent artists have been discovered through the app.
Organizations against the ban say it would infringe on free expression and access to ideas and would not solve the underlying policy concern. In addition, they say creators will lose their online communities and revenue.
Next Steps
ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, has said it will not sell the social media platform. This story is well-covered by news outlets around the world and there is sure to be many updates ahead of January 19th so stay tuned.
Read more here.
Will the TikTok ban impact how you connect with your audience in 2025? Let’s discuss how you can adapt your strategy to keep delivering your message effectively, no matter what changes ahead!
Shauna Goodison
Director of Communications | shauna@eaglecom.ca