• Senate Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to delay a looming TikTok ban.
• Lawmakers emphasise the need for more time to find an American buyer.

Clocks are ticking at TikTok, and millions of American users and businesses are bracing for what could be the app’s final days in the United States. With a federal ban potentially taking effect this Sunday, Senate Democrats are ramping up the pressure on President Joe Biden to intervene and delay the decision. Their argument? A ban would harm not just creators and small businesses but also millions of users who rely on the platform for entertainment, entrepreneurship, and connection.

“We’re asking for the ability to resolve this issue rationally so TikTok does not go dark,” said Democratic Senator Ed Markey on Thursday. “Let’s take a breath, step back, buy some time, and figure this out.” As reported by Reuters, Markey’s appeal is part of a growing bipartisan effort to postpone the ban. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has also joined in, pressing Biden to extend by 90 days the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations. Without such a move, the app, which has become a staple for 170 million Americans, could be forced to cease operations, creating a massive ripple effect.

“It’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer,” Schumer said. “We can’t disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, including so many influencers who have built up a network of followers.”

The battle over TikTok

The controversy surrounding TikTok isn’t new. In April, Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations in 270 days, citing national security concerns. Lawmakers and intelligence agencies have expressed growing unease that TikTok’s data collection practices could be exploited by the Chinese government for espionage. The Justice Department recently underscored these fears, calling TikTok a “powerful tool for espionage” due to its access to vast amounts of sensitive user data.

As the deadline looms, the stakes are high. TikTok has warned that it plans to shut down its US operations on Sunday if no last-minute solution is found. The scenario would leave millions of users scrambling for alternatives and disrupt content creators who depend on the platform for their livelihoods. While lawmakers like Markey, Cory Booker, and Chris Van Hollen are urging Biden to grant an extension, the administration has shown little interest in stepping in. A White House official recently suggested that the incoming administration may be better suited to address the issue, especially given that the deadline falls on a holiday weekend and just a day before the presidential transition.

A divided front

The effort to delay the ban has shown differences among US lawmakers. While some, like Schumer, advocate for a more measured approach, others remain sceptical of TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Critics claim that allowing the app to run without restrictions poses a continuing threat to national security. They fear TikTok’s data collection capabilities could be used to spread misinformation or gather sensitive information on American citizens.

“Trump talks a big game on China and wanted to ban TikTok – just like many Republicans voted to do,” said Representative Frank Pallone, a Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee. “But now he’s inviting TikTok’s CEO to sit beside him at his inauguration even though TikTok is linked to the CCP and is a threat to our national security. What message does this send?”

Republicans are also divided on the issue. Some, like US Representative Mike Waltz, feel that measures can be put in place to keep TikTok operational while protecting national security. Waltz recently cited a provision in the law that allows for a 90-day extension if there is “significant progress” toward a divestiture. “Essentially, that buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going,” Waltz explained.

The rise of alternatives

Many TikTok users are looking at alternatives as the future of the platform becomes more questionable. One app in particular, RedNote, has seen a meteoric rise in recent days. Known as Xiaohongshu in China, RedNote gained nearly 3 million US users in a single day earlier this week, according to analytics firm Similarweb. The influx of ‘TikTok refugees’ has propelled the app to the top of US app store download charts, surpassing TikTok in popularity – at least for now.

The shift underscores the significant impact of TikTok’s potential ban. For creators who’ve built their careers on the platform, the prospect of starting over elsewhere is daunting. Many had hoped ByteDance would finalise a deal to sell its US operations, but with the deadline fast approaching, resignation appears to be setting in. The TikTok turmoil has benefitted more than just RedNote. ByteDance’s Lemon8, a sister app to TikTok, has also seen a surge in US users. Nonetheless, those platforms face their own set of issues, ranging from worries about censorship to data privacy.

What happens next?

The fate of TikTok now hangs in the balance, with several potential scenarios still in play. The US Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case and could issue a ruling as early as Friday. The court’s decision could uphold the ban, delay its implementation, or overturn the law altogether. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, may attend Trump’s inauguration (see above) – an unexpected development sparking speculation about warming ties between the company and the incoming administration.

Privately held ByteDance is primarily owned by institutional investors, including the US’s BlackRock and General Atlantic. Despite this, critics remain wary of its ties to China. “It’s not just about ownership; it’s about influence,” one analyst noted. Currently, millions of TikTok users, creators, and businesses are holding their breath. Whether the app survives or not, one thing is clear: the TikTok issue has become a flashpoint in the broader conversation about technology, security, and geopolitics in the digital age.

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