Trump plans to push for Tikkok: What does that mean for users?

Trump plans to push for Tikkok: What does that mean for users?

Donald Trump is about to be inaugurated as the new US president and has already announced plans regarding the controversial video platform TikTok. As part of an interview with NBC, Trump announced that he wanted to grant the app a three -month postponement before a threatening ban in the United States. According to Trump, this decision should be officially announced next Monday. Tikok has over 170 million users in the United States and plays a central role in the media landscape, especially among young adults.

The discussion about Tikkok is primarily about security concerns. The US Congress passed a law in April 2024 that forces Tikkok to sell its American offshoot or to be removed from the US app stores until January 19, 2024. Against the background of the concern, this was done that the parent company bytedance, which was founded in Beijing, has a connection to the Chinese government and could therefore put potentially access to user data from Americans, which could influence public opinion. In connection with these concerns, Tikkok vigorously rejected the allegations.

deadlines and legal requirements

The legal foundations for a possible postponement from Trump are unclear. According to the provisions, the law allows a deadline extension of 90 days, provided that there are promising sales negotiations. So far, however, bytedance has refused to negotiate a sale. If no solution is found, the US service providers will threaten to support the Tikok even after the deadline has expired, high penalties of $ 5,000 per user.

The situation could continue to worsen, because Tikok calls for clear assurances from the US government in order to continue to operate the platform in the United States. Otherwise, corporate management threatens to switch off the app in the United States on Sunday. Karina Jean-Pierre, the spokeswoman for the White House, sees Trump's announcement as purely demonstrative and currently sees no need for action before Trump's taking office.

reactions and political implications

Trump, who indicated that he could speak against a ban, also asked the Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of the law to find a political solution. Tikok is not only used in the USA, but is also under pressure in other countries such as India, Iran and Albania. The potential exclusion of the app from the USA would be the first blockade in a western democracy.

The consequences of such a ban would be considerable. New arrivals could no longer receive access to TikKok, while existing users have to fear that future updates or safety -relevant patches are no longer available. The uncertainty about the handling of user data after such a ban also remains an important topic; Many experts warn of possible risks.

Alternatives to Tikkok, such as Instagram Reels, Snapchat Spotlight and YouTube shorts, could play a larger role, while users hope to continue accessing the platform with VPN servers. In the meantime, the group around Frank McCourt, Tiktok may be planning to purchase, but bytedance has made it clear at the moment that the app is not for sale.