TikTok’s effort to overturn a U.S. law that could see it banned or sold by early 2025 has been rejected by a federal appeals court. The company argued the law was unconstitutional and harmed the free speech of 170 million U.S. users, but the court upheld it, citing bipartisan action to address national security concerns over alleged links between ByteDance and the Chinese state—claims TikTok denies. The law focuses on foreign control to counter perceived threats from China. TikTok plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing the ban would censor Americans and is based on flawed information. Donald Trump’s recent election victory could impact TikTok’s fate. While he previously sought to ban the app, he pledged during his campaign not to enforce the law. However, experts like Cornell’s Professor James Grimmelmann doubt he will overturn the ban due to strong anti-China sentiment in Congress. The case has drawn attention from TikTok users and competitors. Creator Tiffany Cianci expressed frustration but refused to move her content to platforms like Instagram, citing lower success and more censorship risks. Meanwhile, rivals like Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) have adapted features mimicking TikTok’s short-form video format. Experts predict a TikTok ban would shift the social media landscape, benefiting Meta, YouTube, and Snap but hurting creators and small businesses reliant on TikTok. However, TikTok’s advanced AI recommendation engine, powered by massive infrastructure, is hard to replicate. Cory Johnson of Epistrophy Capital Research highlighted risks tied to TikTok’s hyper-targeting and China’s data laws. He likened these risks to algorithmic changes seen on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing concerns over social media’s influence on society, fueling scrutiny of TikTok’s role in the U.S.
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