Shadowbanned: Unpacking the Hidden Politics Behind the TikTok Ban
Graphic created by Kayla Giset.
On January 18th, at around 10:15 P.M. EST, the bustling online world of TikTok—home to lip-syncing, life hacks, viral recipes, and political debates—suddenly went dark. The app, used by over 170 million Americans, was shut down across the United States. Users attempting to log in were met with a grim message: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The blackout sent influencers and users alike into a frenzy; but the chaos was short-lived. Within 12 hours, TikTok was back online as if nothing had happened. The most ironic twist? A message greeted returning users, crediting the app’s return to none other than newly inaugurated President Trump.
TikTok’s decision followed the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday to uphold a ban that received strong bipartisan backing in Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in April. The legislation prohibited American companies from hosting or distributing content for the Chinese-owned social media platform unless the company was to be sold to a buyer based in the United States or a US-adjacent nation. For President Trump, coining himself as the “savior of TikTok” served as a strategic move to appeal to younger voters and leverage his first 100 days in office, arguably the most important of the first term.
The bidding war for TikTok has become a politically charged spectacle, truly highlighting the underlying fragility of the state of the GOP. Two key groups specifically, one led by billionaire Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O’Leary, and another by AI search engine PerplexityAI, have formally submitted offers to acquire the app. However, ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, has publically remained steadfast in its refusal to sell, citing the unparalleled value of its proprietary algorithm—an innovative technique that has been met with little success on other competing platforms.
President Trump's intervention to reverse the TikTok ban appears to be a strategic move aimed at solidifying his fragile political standing. By positioning himself as the app's savior, he attempted to appeal to its vast user base, specifically younger voters, also hinting at a potential shift in U.S.-China relations. While the initial ban was meant to tackle deep-seated concerns over national security and data privacy, Trump's decision to reinstate TikTok was merely a chess move in a game of checkers to enhance his position on the domestic stage. Nevertheless, this action may introduce even more issues, as it could be perceived as undermining judicial decisions by many of his long-time skeptics, thereby affecting the coherence of legitimate U.S. foreign policy. In a world where digital platforms such as TikTok are increasingly subject to government intervention, it feels as though TikTok—and potentially other apps like it—remain perpetually shadowbanned, caught between the chess moves of over-ambitious leaders and the gray lines of international policy.