Social Media Showdown: TikTok’s Fight for Survival in MT

Are your Scrolling Days over?

Tik-Tok, the wildly popular social media platform known for its short-form videos, might be on its last leg here in the United States, facing a potential shutdown on January 19, 2025. Which... if you check the calendar, is the day before the inauguration of President Trump.

Controversy surrounding the Chinese-owned app seems to be never-ending. Between its data privacy practices and security concerns, it has led to ongoing debates about its future here in the States.

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What is the history of TikTok?

TikToks History in America has been quite the rollercoaster ride. It has been marked by ebbs and flows of public sentiment and government intervention. Montana was actually the first State to ban the app in 2023 with SB-419 and declared up to a $10,000 fine for entities downloading or using it. The law was on track to take effect on January 1, 2024, but TikTok sued and requested a preliminary injunction. The injunction by the US District Court halted everything, and the battle continues.

What's going on with TikTok now?

With its impending doom lingering, there are once again talks of letting it continue to exist. Former and soon-to-be President Trump attempted to ban the app in 2020, saying national security risks were too high. However, now he is singing a potentially different toon after successfully using the platform for his campaign and expressing he might save it.

In the meantime, TikTok filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop the ban until their appeal is heard by the US Supreme Court. The social media giant is hoping the new President will stick to his word and overturn the ban.

For now, the fate of TikTok hangs in the uncertain balance. With over 170 million users on the platform in America alone, it has undoubtedly become one of the world's most popular and lucrative apps. Will it survive with our new President-elect, or will it face its demise in the US?

Only time will tell, but the conversations surrounding the app are far from over.

Credit: archive.legmt.gov , newsroom.tiktok.com , PBS.org