Trump Delays TikTok Ban as New Date Set to September

President Donald Trump has once again delayed the TikTok ban, giving the app more time to be sold, with the new deadline set for September. TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, and a law passed last year requires it to sell the app or stop working in the U.S., as reported by the BBC.

The U.S. government believes TikTok could be a risk to national security because Chinese authorities might get access to users’ data. The app was even shut down for a day in January before Trump stepped in to allow more time, this being the third extension.

Trump’s Changing Mind and Reasons for the Delay

At first, Trump strongly supported banning TikTok and said it was unsafe because it could send American users’ data to China and was causing data privacy issues. But his views changed, and in December, Trump said, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points.” He believes TikTok helped him connect with young voters in the last election.

Trump’s decision to delay the ban seems to be influenced by how popular the app is, especially among young people. TikTok has 170 million users in the U.S., and these users spend nearly an hour a day on the app. Removing it could upset many people, including voters and businesses that use it to sell products and reach customers.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, criticized Trump for ignoring the law. He said the President is not taking national security seriously. Warner said, “Trump is flouting the law and ignoring its own national security findings about the risks posed by a PRC-controlled TikTok.”

Even though Trump gave more time, the law passed by Congress still stands. That law requires TikTok to be sold by a certain date. If no deal is made by September 17, TikTok could be banned again in the U.S. The courts have already said the law is legal. Trump’s extensions don’t cancel the law; they only delay it. So, a ban is still very possible.

What Happens Next: Who Might Buy TikTok and Who Benefits

Many big names are interested in buying TikTok, and Amazon has reportedly made a late offer to buy the app. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has been mentioned, and even Elon Musk’s name came up, though he said he isn’t interested. MrBeast, the world’s biggest YouTuber, said he is part of a group that wants to buy TikTok. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and businessman Kevin O’Leary are also part of another group trying to buy it.

ByteDance may be willing to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations but wants to keep control of the app’s secret algorithm. That algorithm helps decide what videos users see, and it’s a big reason why TikTok is so successful. One idea being discussed is to let ByteDance keep the algorithm but allow a new U.S. company to use it by paying for it. This way, TikTok can continue in the U.S. with less worry about Chinese control.

If TikTok is banned, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, which also show short videos, might get more users. According to a market expert named Kelsey Chickering, companies are already planning to move their ads to platforms like Instagram and YouTube if TikTok gets banned. These apps are owned by Meta and Google, two of the biggest tech companies in the world.

Twitch, owned by Amazon, is already popular for live videos and could attract more TikTok users. If TikTok gets banned, people will still have many other options, but the app’s future depends on whether a deal is made before the September deadline.