TikTok creating a separate U.S. entity was not on my 2026 Bingo Card. But to be fair, no one could have predicted the events that would transpire this year.
On Jan. 22, TikTok finalized a deal to avoid a complete ban on the app with the intent to preserve and protect the “safety and security of millions of Americans.” However, with several new investors who are allies of our president, security concerns have been raised alongside worries that the dynamic of the app itself will change.
Following the new ownership, complaints arose online with claims of videos discussing Epstein or ICE being flagged as not compliant with community guidelines or not being shared appropriately. The app went on to say that these events were the result of a system outage, and researchers claimed to have found no evidence that proves the claims of complainants. However, users can’t help but remain suspicious of what’s yet to come.
Investors with ties to President Donald Trump, like Oracle cofounder and Executive Chairman Larry Ellison, have also been grounds for concern. While there is currently no proof that this new ownership has affected anything so far, some believe that it’s only a matter of time.
This app has proved to be revolutionary, uniting not only the country but the world through some of the most difficult times. College students can attest that for many of us, TikTok was one of the reasons we remained sane during the COVID-19 pandemic. And no matter how many embarrassing videos may have been posted, it was pivotal during this time.
Statistically, Forbes explains that in 2020, TikTok was the most downloaded app, receiving 850 million downloads globally. Five years later in 2025, TikTok was still on the board, ranking as the second most downloaded app, being surpassed only by OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The app’s influence expands far beyond social relationships and into the tangible economy. As of 2024, 74% of businesses that used TikTok reported that the app allowed them to expand, with small businesses alone having contributed $24 billion to the U.S. GDP thanks to the app.
This is no ordinary application; TikTok holds enormous power in dictating the country’s discourse, economy and even the news cycle.
TikTok is more than just an app for entertaining videos; it is also a place where users are able to voice their opinions, advocate for important causes and work to better their own economic standing. Who is to say that these investors will not be persuaded to control the app for their own political agendas or those of their allies? Truthfully, there is no clear answer to this question.
At the end of the day, the American people must sit by, wait for what is to come and hope for the best. This application has created opportunities and changed the lives of millions. As a nation, we must remain wary, but also optimistic.
So, keep posting vlogs, advertise your small businesses, create your own communities and most importantly, remain authentically you. That has always been what TikTok is meant for, and that is what it should continue to represent, no matter who owns it.
