TikTok will continue operating in the United States for another 75 days, after President Donald Trump approved an extension to allow time for an ownership deal.
According to a law passed by Congress, TikTok had to be separated from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, by 19 January. If not, the platform would face a ban in the US on national security grounds. However, President Trump extended the deadline, aiming to reach a solution that allows TikTok to continue operating.
Several American firms have shown interest in buying a share of TikTok. However, ByteDance, which owns the platform and its algorithm, has said it is not for sale.
“My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress,” Trump wrote on social media. “The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”
He added that he looked forward to working with TikTok and Chinese officials to finalise the deal.
TikTok, which has offices in both Singapore and Los Angeles, has said that user safety remains a priority. Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that the Chinese government does not and will not ask its companies to hand over foreign data.
Public reaction to TikTok deadline and content impact
This is the second time President Trump has delayed enforcement of the 2024 law requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok. The legislation received bipartisan support and was upheld by the Supreme Court, which said the ban was necessary for national security.
Experts argue that unless TikTok’s algorithm is separated from ByteDance, security risks remain. Chris Pierson, CEO of cybersecurity firm BlackCloak, said the issue centres on who controls the algorithm and data.
“If ByteDance still controls the algorithm, then a foreign, adversarial state could access or misuse the data,” Pierson said.
Legal experts have also questioned the legality of delaying enforcement. Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, noted the delay is not an official extension under the law.
“He’s not extending anything legally. He’s simply choosing not to enforce the law for 75 more days,” Rozenshtein said. “The law is still active, and companies are technically violating it by continuing to support TikTok.”
Mixed public opinion and relief for content creators
Public attitudes toward TikTok have shifted in recent years. A recent Pew Research Centre survey showed that support for a ban has dropped from 50% in March 2023 to about one-third. Another third oppose the idea, while the rest remain undecided.
Among those who support a ban, most cited data privacy concerns as the key reason.
Meanwhile, content creators welcomed the news of the extension. Daniel Ryave, a tutor in Washington, DC, uses his TikTok account @SATPrepTutor to find new students. He has around 175,000 followers.
“Almost all of my new students come through TikTok,” he said. “It’s one of the best tools for finding clients.”
He added that the extension will help students keep accessing educational content in a short, engaging format that they may not find elsewhere.
