On Jan. 19, 170 million Americans lost access to the TikTok app after it was banned in the U.S following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACAA). Just fourteen hours after the ban went into effect, the app returned, issuing a message to its users personally thanking President Donald Trump for the platform’s restoration. Regardless of how you feel about TikTok’s future in the U.S., Trump should not exceed his authority to override a law upheld by Congress and the Supreme Court.
The PAFACAA was enacted with bipartisan support in 2024. According to the Congressional Research Service, the act was created to address national security threats by striving to prevent data access and content manipulation from designated U.S. foreign adversaries including the People’s Republic of China.
However, Trump signed an executive order pausing the ban for 75 days while the Trump administration “pursues a resolution that protects national security while saving [the] platform.” After signing the order on Jan. 20, Trump told reporters “Essentially with TikTok I have the right to sell it or close it […] We may have to get approval from China. I’m not sure.”
In 2020, Trump supported a ban of TikTok, however more recently he stated that he believes the app gave him a boost in the 2024 election among younger voters. This decision appears to be an attempt at appealing both to Generation Z, who make up 60% of the app’s users, as well as business owners. According to a 2023 economic impact report on TikTok conducted by consulting firm Oxford Economics, more than 7 million U.S. businesses rely on TikTok, with 224,000 jobs supported because of small business activity on the platform.
In addition to small businesses, many content creators are financially supported by the app. Kaitlyn Edejer, a second year advertising major, currently has 19.4k followers on Tiktok, where she posts fashion, lifestyle and college related content. “I did and still do rely on TikTok for income, content creation is my full time job,” she said.
Edejer continued, “TikTok is really where I’ve been able to thrive and grow the most as a creator and I also just feel like the community is so curated to you and your niche, you’re really able to connect with people on a greater level there.”
According to Edejer, the majority of her income comes from paid partnerships and affiliate marketing commissions. She is also part of TikTok’s creator program, which allows her to monetize her views on videos that meet the program’s requirements.
Banning the platform also risks inadvertently giving Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, an even greater hold on the social media market. A report from Forrester, a research and consulting group, found that Instagram Reels have become increasingly popular, with nearly a third of U.S teens using the feature weekly. Without TikTok, Meta could monopolize short form video content, leaving consumers with fewer choices and business owners with less advertising options.
Though banning TikTok has its share of potential consequences, Trump’s actions are indicative of a more pervasive issue. By postponing the enforcement of a law that underwent rigorous legislative and judicial scrutiny, Trump has positioned himself above the legislative and judicial branch, even with a republican Senate majority and conservative leaning Supreme Court already in his favor. Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts released a joint statement on Jan. 19 opposing a pause on the ban, writing “Now that the law has taken effect, there’s no legal basis for any kind of ‘extension’ of its effective date.”
Ultimately, the future of a social media app should not distract from the very real issue of the President abusing his executive authority. Since taking office, Trump has issued executive orders to withdraw the U.S from the Paris Climate Accords, end constitutionally protected Birthright Citizenship, and rescind equal employment measures. In just a short period of time, Trump has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the constitutional system of checks and balances that goes beyond social media.
This executive order has serious implications for unchecked presidential power. By overriding an act that was signed into law by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court, Trump has set a dangerous precedent of executive overreach and has threatened the balance of power within the U.S government. This debate is about more than just TikTok, it’s about preserving the integrity of our democratic system.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
