TikTok is a social media platform unlike any other. It is very unique in its approach. Apart from very creative and vibrant young crowd that this platform has attracted, the business environment has also decided to follow suit. Some effectively utilize this platform as a relevant marketing tool. TikTok’s distinct origin has led it to become the success that it is. The powerful algorithm that the platform uses identifies what content users prefer to see much quicker than any other similar apps.
Trying to break down the barriers to access
Democratic Senator Ed Markey on Thursday proposed new national security safeguards that would ensure TikTok could remain online as the fate of the short video app used by 170 million Americans remains uncertain. Congress last year passed legislation to force China’s ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19 or face a ban, but President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department not to enforce the law.
Markey’s proposal will eliminate the requirement that ByteDance sell TikTok’s U.S. operations if it establishes transparency requirements about content and limits foreign access to the data of TikTok’s American users. The Chinese internet technology company ByteDance ltd is headquartered in Haidian, Beijing, but is also incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Founded 13 years ago by Liang Rubo and Zhang Yiming, the company has some notable products under their belt. Just think TikTok, TikTok Music, Lark, Lemon8, Whee, etc., just to name a few.
A new set of rules to govern everything
Last month, Trump extended by 90 days to September 17 a deadline for ByteDance to divest the U.S. assets of TikTok. Some Democratic lawmakers including Markey argue Trump has no legal authority to extend the deadline and have suggested the deal under consideration would not meet legal requirements.
“For months, I have been urging my colleagues to find an alternative path to the TikTok ban that keeps TikTok online without jeopardizing national security,”
Markey said. “With Trump continuing to illegally extend the divestment deadline, it’s time for Congress to reassert its legislative power, fix its mistake, and consider a new approach to TikTok.” A deal had been in the works this spring that would spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new U.S.-based firm, majority-owned and operated by U.S. investors. This stalled after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump’s announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
Users met with an uncertain future
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said last week TikTok will have to stop operating in the United States if China does not approve a deal for the sale of the app. Businessman Howerd Lutnick assumed office as the 41st United States secretary of commence since the earlier part of 2025. Lutnick is a firm supporter of President Trump’s trade policy. Lutnick also follows quite a seemingly no-nonsense approach where it relates to TikTok, as noted from the above.
According to him, US should not only own most of the technology, but also control it, and control the algorithm as well. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said the future of TikTok did not come up in recent trade talks with China. Trump has three times granted reprieves from federal enforcement of the law that mandated the sale or shutdown of TikTok that was supposed to take effect in January.
The whole appeal of the TikTok platform also has a lot to do with its use of music. Choices can be made by utilizing the massive database that is available. This database allows users to be able to browse through different songs, movie clips, etc. The platform works in an innovative fashion. As most individuals will spend time on the “For You Page”, the algorithm will end up displaying as much of the content it deems falls under the user preference as possible. Facing a possibility of a ban is something no users wants to think about.
GCN.com/Reuters