- The TikTok ban could be back in effect this weekend
- App owner ByteDance must sell to a US-owned company
- Who might buy the app?
The TikTok ban could be making a return. As time runs out on the extension President Donald Trump granted app owners ByteDance, users have been asking the same question – what happens next?
Back in mid January, TikTok temporarily went offline, with users in the United States unable to download the app. This was due to pressure from the United States government being applied to the China-based company.
Their request? For ByteDance to sell up to a new American-based owner.
The core concern surrounding the TikTok ban revolved around data collection and privacy worries, with a Chinese app being active on so many US-owned devices.
Read more: What date is the TikTok ban coming back?
TikTok went dark on 18 January but ultimately, the ban didn’t last long at all. Around 24 hours later, a recently-in-office President Donald Trump gave ByteDance a 75 day extension, effectively saving TikTok from permanent closure in America.
Despite being initially in favor of a TikTok ban, the app’s apparent use in Trump’s Presidential campaign seemed to have convinced him to change his mind on the subject. Additionally, his son Barron was also said to be key to making his father believe the app was of use to accessing young voters.
Read more: Is there a petition to stop the TikTok ban?
The temporary TikTok blackout led to the creation of some fun viral memes – with many users coming clean about which of their trends were actually based on lies. However, while the app remained useable to US based audiences, the TikTok ban issue remained unsolved.
So what happens next?
When does the TikTok ban take effect?
The TikTok ban could take effect once more on Saturday 5 April. This is when the 75-day extension that President Donald Trump issued in late January comes to an end.
If ByteDance is unable to find a suitable US-based buyer, TikTok could go dark once more. This would mean that the app will be unavailable to American users in the App Store.
Users who currently have the app will be unable to update or use it.
Who might buy TikTok?
According to outlets like The Guardian, President Trump has been looking over “final proposal” documents regarding the app’s sale to a US buyer this week. On Sunday, 30 March, Trump told press that “We have a lot of potential buyers.”
He added: “There’s tremendous interest in TikTok… I’d like to see TikTok remain alive.”
As for who those potential buyers could be? Apparently, The White House is working with a number of US investors to secure a sale. Amazon is the latest name to express an interest, joining the likes of private equity firm Blackstone and the tech organisation Oracle.
