TikTok was restored for all U.S. users on Jan. 19 after a short-lived 12 hour ban. The very next day, Jan. 20, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew claimed a front row seat at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The rapid progression from TikTok’s suspension to its return has left no doubt that the act was never a security or privacy measure, but was rather a strategic political stunt. Young users, who heavily rely on social media for news, must begin approaching online information they consume on TikTok with greater caution.
TikTok first became inaccessible to U.S. users on Jan. 18, though the app itself remained installed. The app’s notification, preventing users from scrolling, expressed, “We are fortunate that president Trump has indicated he will work on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.” When TikTok was dramatically restored, an official statement on the app’s homescreen overtly expressed gratitude to Trump for enabling the app’s return. The explicit mention of Trump is a striking emblem of state media. Ironically, it was Trump who introduced the prospect of a TikTok ban: in August 2020, Trump signed the executive order attempting to block the platform over concerns about its Chinese ownership.
As a result of the app’s conspicuous display of the President’s name, some TikTok enthusiasts now credit Trump for bringing back their beloved app while they criticize former President Biden for approving the ban. Although it was Biden who signed the 2024 legislation requiring the app to be sold or shut down, the ban’s origin traces itself back to Trump and his animosity towards the app and its originating country. Trump’s administration first floated the idea, and his allies in Congress sustained the efforts. Then, the ban’s legality was upheld by the Supreme Court, which included three Trump appointees. Trump was no opponent, he was the driving force behind the ban.
In fact, during the last few days of his presidency, Biden chose not to enforce the TikTok ban, leaving the app’s fate to the incoming Trump administration. Despite this, Trump is now positioned to take credit for restoring the app. Trump orchestrated the entire TikTok series of events—perhaps not from the very introduction of the TikTok bill, but Chew joining in the many other tech CEOs on inauguration day casts serious doubt on the genuine intentions of TikTok’s political notifications. Given that Trump had no executive power the day before the 20th, it’s questionable how he could take credit for the app’s return. Trump’s inconsistent position on the ban confirms that it was more about gaining favor with young voters than addressing national security—and it’s worked. His strategy has clearly made an impact, with some young users now associating him with the app’s revival, even if the true process behind its return remains unclear.
As young users who largely depend on social media platforms, including TikTok, for news and information, we must remain cautious about the political content we consume on the app. Now, with TikTok’s future seemingly tied to Trump’s influence, the app’s political narratives could also be shaped accordingly. TikTok could soon follow the path of Meta platforms, which discontinued third party fact-checking, loosened hate speech restrictions and ended diversity and equity policies after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg established personal ties with Trump. Students must look towards reliable, unbiased sources outside the Instagram and TikTok zone of comfort to ensure they are consuming impartial information.
Not only was Trump’s whole TikTok ploy manipulative, it was also impatient—he couldn’t even wait 24 hours or until after his inauguration to restore the app. It’s frustrating to see so many teenagers falling for a hastily executed tactic. As young users, we must be more critical of the online content we engage with and learn to differentiate platforms of entertainment from informative sources.
