No, TikTok won’t get banned on April 5th. The popular social media app, which over 170 million Americans use, has received another extension that moves the potential ban to June 19.
TikTok’s battle with ban threats isn’t new. The app faced a nationwide ban in January this year, but President Donald Trump reversed the decision after just 14 hours. The current situation sees President Trump giving ByteDance an extra 75 days to sell TikTok. The app might face restrictions or become unavailable in the U.S. if no sale happens during this timeframe. Reports show investors have put $20 billion in cash on the table for TikTok’s U.S. platform, while Vice President JD Vance oversees potential deals.
This piece will tell you what triggered the April 5 deadline, the potential buyers interested in TikTok, and what a possible ban could mean for you.
What led to the April 5 TikTok ban deadline?
The TikTok ban deadline of April 5 came after a complex legal and political trip. Congress passed a law requiring ByteDank to sell TikTok or face a ban, which President Biden signed in April 2024. The Supreme Court unanimously backed this law on January 17, 2025.
TikTok went offline for about 14 hours after the law took effect on January 19. President Trump’s first executive order as president delayed enforcement by 75 days, setting the April 5 deadline.
U.S. officials created this law due to concerns about ByteDance’s control of Americans’ data. National security experts raised alarms that China’s government could access sensitive data from the app’s 170 million American users.
Trump’s stance on TikTok changed by a lot over time. He tried to ban the app through executive orders in 2020, claiming it captured “mass amounts of information about Americans” that made them vulnerable to China’s government. Notwithstanding that, federal judges blocked these orders, noting Trump had “likely exceeded his authority”.
Trump completely reversed his position by December 2024. He told reporters: “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok” and credited the platform for his success with young voters.
Vice President JD Vance led behind-the-scenes sale negotiations. The proposed structure gave new investors 50% ownership of an American TikTok entity, while Chinese owners would keep less than 20% – the legal limit. Major firms like Blackstone, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz showed interest as potential investors.
The negotiations stalled after Trump announced new Chinese import tariffs. ByteDance told the White House that Beijing would not approve the deal until trade issues were resolved. This deadlock showed how TikTok’s future became caught in broader U.S.-China political tensions.
Who is trying to buy TikTok and why it matters
Tech giants, billionaires, and investment groups are racing to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations as the ban deadline gets closer. Each buyer has a different vision for the platform’s future.
Oracle leads the pack and talks about a potential deal with U.S. investors to get a majority stake in TikTok. Microsoft tried to buy the app in 2020 and has shown fresh interest now. AI startup Perplexity wants to merge with TikTok and lets ByteDance investors keep their equity stakes.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt leads “The People’s Bid” with a $20 billion offer. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary joined McCourt’s team and claims he “put $20 billion on the table” for the platform.
TikTok’s U.S. operations could be worth anywhere between $20 billion and $100 billion. President Trump wants a joint venture with “50% U.S. ownership” and says “we’re going to have a lot of bidders”.
China might block any sale attempt. Chinese officials have made it clear they won’t allow a forced sale. TikTok’s algorithm, known as the platform’s “secret sauce”, needs special attention. Chinese law labels this algorithm as vital technology for national security, so it needs government approval before export.
ByteDance must sell TikTok because Congress passed a law about data harvesting and Chinese government influence concerns. A Chinese internet regulator’s investment fund bought a 1% stake in ByteDance’s subsidiary and put a director on its board in 2021. This move raised questions about government control.
The platform’s 170 million American users watch this complex tech and political drama unfold around them.
What users need to know if TikTok gets banned
The TikTok ban on April 5th will hit its 170 million American users hard. Users won’t be able to download the app anymore since it will vanish from Apple and Google app stores.
Current TikTok users will see their app slowly stop working. The app will become outdated without updates. Users will face video loading delays and performance issues. When India banned TikTok, users who tried to open the app just saw a “Service not available” message.
You could try using a virtual private network (VPN) to trick your device into thinking it’s in another country. But cybersecurity experts caution that free VPNs often make their money by selling user data or putting malware on devices. Good VPNs need time, money, and tech knowledge to work properly.
The ban targets companies that help TikTok run, not the users themselves. The law stops app stores and hosting companies from sharing or updating the app. Companies breaking these rules could face fines up to $5,000 per American user—which could add up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
Content creators aren’t waiting around. They’re moving to other platforms already. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts have become popular choices. These alternatives work with similar scrollable feed algorithms. Other options include:
- Facebook Reels, which uses Meta’s huge user base
- Lemon8, TikTok’s sister app (though it might get banned too)
- Triller, an American video-sharing app that got big in 2020
- RedNote (Xiaohongshu), which became the most downloaded app in January 2025 as people protested the TikTok ban
While keeping TikTok on your phone stays legal, the app will probably stop working without regular updates and maintenance. In fact, many users have started preparing for a “mass migration” to other platforms.
Conclusion
TikTok won’t face a ban on April 5th. The deadline moves to June 19th, giving ByteDance more time to find American buyers for the platform. This latest extension adds another twist to TikTok’s trip through American politics and regulatory oversight.
TikTok has stayed strong despite past ban threats, but uncertainty remains. The platform’s future depends on ByteDance selling it within this extended window. Big names like Oracle, Microsoft, and Frank McCourt’s group have stepped up with a $20 billion offer. Notwithstanding that, any deal faces major hurdles – China might not approve the sale of TikTok’s algorithm.
The platform’s 170 million American users are stuck in this geopolitical battle. A ban would remove the app from official stores, though existing users could keep their current version until it stops working without updates. On top of that, content creators have started to look at backup options like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
The sort of thing I love about the TikTok story is how it shows tech, national security, and international relations coming together. The April 5th deadline no longer poses an immediate threat, but users should prepare for what might come next. The clock ticks toward June 19th, and millions wonder if their favorite social platform will stay available or fall victim to growing US-China tensions.
FAQs
Q1. Is TikTok going to be banned in the United States? As of now, TikTok is not being banned. The deadline for a potential ban has been extended to June 19th, giving ByteDance more time to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to American buyers.
Q2. What happens if TikTok gets banned? If banned, TikTok would be removed from app stores, preventing new downloads. Existing users could still access the app, but it would gradually deteriorate without updates, potentially becoming unusable over time.
Q3. Who are the potential buyers for TikTok? Several parties have shown interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, including Oracle, Microsoft, and a group led by billionaire Frank McCourt. The estimated value of the deal ranges from $20 billion to $100 billion.
Q4. Can I still use TikTok if it gets banned? While having TikTok on your phone would remain legal, the app would likely become difficult to use without regular updates. Some users might attempt to use VPNs, but experts warn about potential security risks with this approach.
Q5. What are the alternatives to TikTok if it gets banned? Popular alternatives include Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, and Triller. Many content creators are already preparing for a potential “mass migration” to these platforms in case TikTok becomes unavailable.
