The History of The TikTok Ban

The history of TikTok ban dates back to the apps conception as Musical.ly back in 2015. As it picked up popularity in the states, U.S. officials started to have safety concerns about the app. The Associated Press has a helpful timeline of  TikTok concerns.

Back in 2019, The Pentagon recommended that U.S. Military personnel to delete the app from personal and government issued phones, according to the AP.

Then in August 2020, President Trump issued an executive order "banning American companies from any “transaction” with ByteDance and its subsidiaries, including TikTok."

This then leads to a lawsuit from TikTok to the Trump administration for "alleged violation of due process in its executive orders." Then in March of 2024, The House of Representatives passed a TikTok ban-or-sell bill. President Joe Biden signs that bill in April of 2024.

TikTok Ban Briefly Goes into Effect in The United States

On Saturday January 18th, 2025 the TikTok ban went into effect in the United States. Users were met with the following message:

JBuono, Via TikTok
JBuono, Via TikTok
loading...

Before anyone got used to life without TikTok, American users were allowed back in and received this message:

Jbuono, Via TikTok
Jbuono, Via TikTok
loading...

President Trump who was looking to ban TikTok in 2020, told reporters on Monday January 20th, that he changed his mind on TikTok because he "“got to use it" according to CNN. 

CNN says that the new executive action signed by President Trump will delay the  TikTok ban for 75 days. In that time, the Trump administration will try and “determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.”

Do You Care About a TikTok Ban? The Hudson Valley Chimes In...

While we wait out those 75 days, we want to know what YOU think.

We asked on our social media pages if Hudson Valley residents care about a TikTok ban and received mixed reviews.

One message reads:

It was a way for them to steal everybody's information through TikTok and that's what nobody's getting is they have rights to take anything they want out of your phone. So believe what you want TikTok should be banned. It shouldn't even have existed. We basically let terrorist into our own space

Another said:

Yes I would [care]. I have grow to follow many content creators, who have built small businesses who have use the money that they earned  to donate to help foundations and organization that helped the less fortunate and people who are sick. I have also follow parents of children with special needs to are able to stay home and do their child therapies and medical, doctors appointments, etc. because they are able to use their small business and doing sponsorship/promoting products for other businesses that they get paid for so yes I would be sad if TikTok really gets banned because people will lose their job and income

On a smaller scale, others think we should get rid of social media all together. We want to hear from you! Do you care about a possible TikTok ban again?

If it does get banned again, here are some ways to spend your free time:

10 Creative Ways Spend Your Time Without TikTok

Who knows how long TikTok will be around? If you can't mindlessly scroll through random videos, why not start planning creative ways to spend your time?

Gallery Credit: Canva

Latest Viral TikTok Trend Takes Funny Look at Life in the Adirondacks


We recently came across a viral video that took a lighthearted and fun approach to "Life in the ADKS." It's been circulating for weeks and we think it's worth sharing!

Is life in the Adirondacks all that different from life in say, Albany, Schenectady, or Saratoga Springs? We say, "Yes!"

Even though most cities in the Capital Region are less than an hour away, anyone who's spent a decent amount of time in the North Country knows that certain conveniences that many might take for granted, don't exist throughout the 5,000 square miles of dense forest and high peaks that comprise the mighty ADKS.

So whether you're from Halfmoon or Hague; from Troy or Ticonderoga, you should be able to relate to a viral video that takes a humorous and poignant approach to "Life in the Adirondacks."

Here are a few of our favorites - and you can check out the full video below.

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

TikTok is back: We'll never forget these 10 songs it made huge

Gallery Credit: Kyle Clark

 

More From 97.7/97.3 The Wolf