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TikTok announced on Friday that it would block access to its app for Americans on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration intervenes, setting the interwebs abuzz with opinions and reactions to the long-drawn drama between the American government and the social video powerhouse.
“Can they just shut it down already if they want to? Sick of the back and forth,” wrote one netizen reacting to news.
The ban, which results from a bipartisan law signed by President Biden earlier this year in April, requires TikTok to sell to American buyers by a set deadline. Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the ban, raising eyebrows surrounding the app's future in the U.S.
Here’s how the Internet reacted to the TikTok ban
While the Biden administration made it clear that it would leave the enforcement of the ban to President-elect Trump, netizens spared no time in flooding the social interwebs with a mix of outrage, humor, and confused speculation about what this could mean for the short-form video app’s future in the United States, especially as it remains in talks with several stakeholders regarding its acquisition.
Internet's proverbial digital town square, X (formerly Twitter) was alit with reactions that ranged from being a mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and mock despair to wide-reaching resentment.
“America got bigger fish to fry but a dancing app is the problem 😭,” snarked one user.
“They have to make the smartest decision for their bottom line,” a user theorized.
Some users were also found pleading for a barter, saying
“TAKE FACEBOOK INSTEAD PLS 💔,” pleaded one user.
“can they take snapchat instead..,” rued another.
Amongst the mix were even a few who were ready to take matters into their own hands.
“Who got Bidens number?,” enquired the determined user.
TikTok's official statement
In a firmly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), the company's official policy handle outlined the urgent need for clear guidance as the final weekend before President-elect Trump’s inauguration sets.
The statement read:
"The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans. Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19."
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The way ahead
With the Supreme Court's decision not to intervene and the Biden administration shifting enforcement of the ban to President-elect Trump, it remains uncertain whether the short-video giant will continue to be part of American lives after the inauguration. Moreover, questions linger about the first steps of the incoming administration, especially after TikTok's CEO thanked Trump in his latest post on X.
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