As of February 13, 2025, TikTok’s status in the United States is marked by legal challenges and political interventions. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), enacted in April 2024, mandated that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, due to national security concerns. ByteDance contested this law, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality on January 17, 2025.
In compliance, TikTok suspended its services in the U.S. on January 18, 2025. However, following indications from President-elect Donald Trump of a potential extension for ByteDance to divest, the platform resumed operations 12 hours later. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order granting ByteDance an additional 75 days to finalize the divestiture.
Currently, TikTok remains accessible to U.S. users, but its future hinges on ByteDance’s ability to divest its U.S. operations within the extended timeframe. The situation continues to evolve, with potential buyers expressing interest and ongoing discussions about the platform’s ownership and compliance with U.S. regulations.