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If it seems like TikTok has been in existence forever, it’s likely because it has, at least when considering internet time. The concern now is whether it will continue to exist in the future and, if so, in what capacity?
Commencing in 2017, when the Chinese social video platform combined with its rival Musical.ly, TikTok has transformed from a specialized teen application into a global leader in trends. Naturally, it has also arisen as a possible national security concern, according to U.S. authorities.
On April 24, President Joe Biden approved legislation mandating TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell to an American entity within one year or cease operations. TikTok, alongside its China-based parent firm ByteDance, initiated legal action against the U.S., asserting that the security apprehensions were exaggerated and that the law should be annulled due to a violation of the First Amendment.
The Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the federal law prohibiting TikTok effective January 19 unless it is sold by ByteDance.
Here’s the timeline of how TikTok reached this critical point:
ByteDance was established in China by entrepreneur Zhang Yimin. Its initial successful product is Toutiao, a tailored news aggregator for Chinese consumers.
The startup Musical.ly, renowned later for its app that allows users to upload brief lipsync music videos, was founded in China by entrepreneur Alex Zhu.
Musical.ly climbs to #1 in the Apple App Store after a redesign made the company’s logo visible during user video shares.
ByteDance introduces Douyin, a video-sharing application for Chinese users. Its success motivates the company to create an international version called TikTok.
ByteDance acquires Musical.ly for $1 billion. Nine months later, it integrates the app with TikTok.
Fueled by an algorithm that promotes binge-watching, users begin to share a wide array of videos on the app, including dance performances, culinary preparations, and various “challenges” that encompass acts ranging from serious to humorous.
Rapper Lil Nas X releases the country-trap hit “Old Town Road” on TikTok, where it attains viral status and propels the song to an unprecedented 17 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This phenomenon triggers an influx of TikTok videos from musical artists who suddenly recognize TikTok as an essential avenue to connect with fans.
TikTok resolves federal accusations of breaching U.S. child privacy statutes and consents to a $5.7 million penalty.
The Washington Post highlights that while visuals of Hong Kong democracy rallies and police suppressions are prevalent on most social media platforms, they are curiously absent on TikTok. The report also notes that TikTok posts with the #trump2020 tag garnered over 70 million views.
The company asserts that TikTok’s content moderation, handled in the U.S., is unbiased, claiming that the app is designed for entertainment rather than political discourse.
The Guardian reports on internal documents that allegedly outline how TikTok instructs its moderators to remove or restrict the reach of videos addressing sensitive topics in relation to China, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and related massacre, Tibetan independence, or the sanctioned religious group Falun Gong.
U.S. politicians begin to express concerns regarding TikTok’s influence, demanding a federal investigation into its acquisition of Musical.ly and a national security inquiry regarding TikTok and other Chinese-owned applications. This investigation reportedly commences in November.
The Pentagon advises all U.S. military personnel to remove TikTok from their phones, both personal and government-issued. Certain services prohibit the app on military-issued devices. By January, the Pentagon enforces a ban on the app from all military phones.
TikTok emerges as the second-most downloaded application globally, according to data from analytics firm SensorTower.
Privacy advocates lodge a complaint alleging TikTok continues to breach U.S. child protection laws and disregards a 2019 settlement agreement. The company states that it “takes the issue of safety seriously” and is progressively enhancing protections.
TikTok employs former Disney executive Kevin Mayer as its CEO in an apparent bid to bolster its relations in the U.S. However, Mayer resigns three months later.
India prohibits TikTok along with numerous other Chinese applications following a border clash with China.
President Donald Trump announces he is contemplating banning TikTok as a response to China’s purported mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump issues an extensive yet ambiguous executive order prohibiting American firms from any “transaction” with ByteDance and its affiliates, including TikTok. A few days later, he releases a second order demanding ByteDance divest TikTok’s U.S. operations within 90 days.
Microsoft confirms it is considering acquiring TikTok. However, the deal never materializes; similar offers from Oracle and Walmart also fail. Meanwhile, TikTok files a lawsuit against the Trump administration for alleged infringement of due process in its executive orders.
Joe Biden is elected president. While he does not propose new policies regarding TikTok and will not assume office until January, Trump’s efforts to mandate a sale of TikTok begin to fray regardless. The Trump administration extends the deadlines previously imposed on ByteDance.
and TikTok ultimately allows them to fade away completely.
Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden delays the legal disputes surrounding Trump’s initiative to prohibit TikTok, effectively putting them on hold.
TikTok reveals it has surpassed a billion active users each month.
A report from the Wall Street Journal indicates that TikTok’s algorithms can inundate adolescents with an overflow of detrimental content, including videos suggesting extreme dieting, which is a type of eating disorder.
TikTok introduces fresh guidelines to curb the dissemination of harmful content, such as viral fabrications and endorsements of eating disorders.
“The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,” a project developed by two enthusiasts of the Netflix series as a TikTok endeavor, secures the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
TikTok emerges as the most downloaded application globally, surpassing Instagram, as reported by SensorTower.
BuzzFeed discloses that employees from ByteDance, based in China, have frequently accessed confidential information of TikTok users, according to leaked recordings from over 80 internal TikTok meetings. TikTok responds with a vague statement emphasizing its dedication to security, which does not directly address the BuzzFeed report.
TikTok also states it has transferred its user data to servers in the U.S. operated by Oracle, an American tech company. Nonetheless, this does not alleviate the growing concern among U.S. officials regarding the potential for Chinese authorities to access American user data.
FBI Director Christopher Wray expresses national security apprehensions about TikTok, cautioning that Chinese officials might exploit the app’s recommendation algorithm for influence operations.
ByteDance announced the termination of four employees who accessed information regarding journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while trying to uncover leaks of sensitive information about the company.
The White House instructs federal agencies to ensure TikTok is removed from all government-issued mobile devices within 30 days. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission alert that ByteDance could potentially share TikTok user data with China’s autocratic government.
Lawmakers interrogate TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a six-hour congressional session where Chew, who hails from Singapore, strives to counter claims that TikTok and ByteDance serve as instruments of the Chinese government.
TikTok stated it would limit a feature that some researchers utilize to evaluate trending videos on the platform.
A proposal to outlaw TikTok or mandate its sale to a U.S. entity gains traction in Congress. TikTok invites numerous creators to Washington to implore lawmakers to retreat, while emphasizing the measures the company has implemented to safeguard user data. TikTok also frustrates lawmakers by sending alerts to users urging them to “speak up now” or face the risk of TikTok being banned; subsequently, users inundate congressional offices with calls.
The House of Representatives approves the TikTok ban-or-sale bill.
The Senate mirrors this action, forwarding the bill to President Biden, who enacts it.
TikTok and its Chinese parent corporation ByteDance file a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government, contesting a law that would compel the sale of ByteDance’s stake or face prohibition, arguing that the law is unconstitutional.
Former President Donald Trump joins TikTok, commencing to share campaign-related content.
Vice President Kamala Harris also joins TikTok, starting to post campaign-related material.
A federal appeals court panel unanimously upheld a legislation that may result in a TikTok prohibition, delivering a significant blow to the widely-used social media platform as it struggles for its existence in the U.S. The panel of judges dismissed the company’s challenge of the statute, which it claimed violated the First Amendment.
President-elect Donald Trump requested the Supreme Court to delay the possible TikTok ban from activating until his administration can seek a “political resolution” regarding the matter.
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal statute that would ban TikTok unless it is sold by its China-based parent company, asserting that the threat to national security posed by its connections to China outweighs concerns regarding restricting speech via the app. A ban is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 19, 2025.
Disclaimer: This article has been published from a wire source without alterations to the text.
