The question of whether TikTok will be banned in the US still remains uncertain. President Joe Biden has approved a law that compels Chinese owner ByteDance to “sell” TikTok to an American company. This law allows for a nine-month period for the app to be sold, which can be extended for up to 12 months. With the question “Will TikTok be banned in the US?” circulating these days, if the sale does not happen, the possibility of the app being banned in the US is on the agenda.

US officials are concerned that the Chinese company that owns TikTok may share user data collected through the app with the Chinese government. Since these data may include users’ personal information, locations, and other sensitive details, the US government is concerned that TikTok cannot protect the data of American users.

TikTok algorithm will not be included in the sale

The value of the globally popular app is estimated to be $100 billion. TikTok is undoubtedly a valuable brand. What makes this valuable brand successful is definitely its algorithm. Unlike sites like YouTube, TikTok does not focus on users choosing what to watch. Instead, it tries to understand your interests and provides you with a video feed. The Chinese government legally prevented the TikTok algorithm, which is the key to success, from being sold to any American company.

Will TikTok be banned in the US?

In March, the House of Representatives voted to ban TikTok from the US or compel the app to be sold to an American company. The Justice Department pushed for the sale option instead of a ban. President Biden last week approved the law giving Chinese owner ByteDance up to nine months to sell the app to an American company. This period can be extended to up to 12 months.

The banning of TikTok in the US could lead to widespread social, economic, and political ramifications. Users, investors, and companies could be significantly affected by this situation. The ban could further escalate existing tensions between the two countries and set a precedent for similar apps.