The TikTok Ban That Wasn’t: Propaganda, Politics, or Just a Power Play?

On 19th January 2025, TikTok users across America were met with an unexpected and bizarre situation—an apparent ban on the platform that lasted just 12 hours. But instead of an outright shutdown, the platform suddenly returned, accompanied by a notification praising former President Trump for “saving TikTok” and a 75-day extension granted for the app’s operations.

This strange sequence of events has left many questioning: Was this an actual attempt to ban TikTok, or just a well-orchestrated piece of political propaganda? And what does this mean for the future of social media and US-China relations?

The TikTok Ban That Wasn’t

The US government’s scrutiny of TikTok isn’t new. Concerns over national security, data privacy, and China’s influence on American tech users have been points of tension for years. But what happened on 19th January 2025 seemed more like political theatre than an actual policy move.

A Timeline of Events

  • Midnight, 19th January 2025 – TikTok users in the US find the app inaccessible. Many assume the long-threatened ban has finally taken effect.
  • 12 hours later – The app suddenly comes back online, accompanied by a message thanking former President Donald Trump for “saving TikTok”.
  • A 75-day extension is granted – This supposedly allows time for negotiations regarding the platform’s operations in the US.
  • Public confusion and backlash – Many users suspect this was a staged event rather than a legitimate attempt to ban the platform.

Given that the ban lasted for only half a day, it’s hard to believe this was a serious attempt to remove TikTok from the US market. Instead, it looks more like a strategic PR stunt designed to push a political narrative.

Propaganda or Policy?

There are several possible explanations for what happened, and none of them paint the situation in a particularly neutral light.

1. A Political Stunt by Trump?

The 2024 US election was one of the most controversial in modern history, and Trump’s continued influence on American politics remains strong. The fact that TikTok suddenly reappeared with a message praising Trump suggests this could have been a calculated move to boost his image.

A temporary ban—one that scared users but didn’t actually remove the platform—could serve multiple purposes:

  • Make Trump look like a saviour – By first “banning” the app and then “saving” it, Trump appears to be the hero who stepped in to protect millions of TikTok users.
  • Keep control over the narrative – By controlling the app’s accessibility, political forces can influence how users perceive the situation.
  • Test the waters for an actual ban – This 12-hour outage might have been a way to measure public reaction before deciding on future restrictions.

2. A US Government Tactic to Pressure TikTok?

There’s also the possibility that this was a negotiation tactic—a way to force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, into compliance with US government demands.

  • By temporarily banning the app, the US might be showing that they have the power to take it down permanently.
  • The 75-day extension could be a deadline for ByteDance to make concessions, such as restructuring its US operations or implementing stricter data privacy measures.

This wouldn’t be the first time the US government has played hardball with a foreign tech company. Similar tactics were used against Huawei, which faced significant restrictions in the American market due to national security concerns.

3. An Attempt to Distract from Bigger Issues?

It’s also worth considering whether this entire episode was a distraction from more pressing political or economic issues.

With tensions between the US and China escalating, and domestic issues like inflation and social unrest dominating headlines, a TikTok “crisis” could serve as a diversion—something to dominate social media and shift focus away from more serious matters.

What This Means for Geopolitics and the Future of Social Media

Regardless of the true motivations behind the January 19th TikTok shutdown, this event raises serious questions about the future of social media, censorship, and geopolitics.

1. The US-China Tech War Continues

TikTok has long been at the centre of US-China tensions, and this latest stunt only proves that the battle is far from over.

  • If TikTok remains in the US, it will likely face more restrictions and regulations.
  • If TikTok is eventually banned, we could see China retaliate against American tech companies operating in its market.
  • The global divide in technology could deepen, with the US and its allies distancing themselves from Chinese platforms, much like they did with Huawei.

2. The Precedent for Social Media Censorship

A temporary ban on TikTok, even if it was short-lived, sets a dangerous precedent. If a platform can be shut down and restored for political reasons, what does that mean for freedom of expression?

  • Other social media platforms could be next – If TikTok can be targeted like this, what’s stopping the government from doing the same to Twitter (X), Instagram, or YouTube?
  • Social media users may lose trust in platforms – If tech giants are seen as political tools, people may start looking for alternatives that promise more independence from government influence.

3. The Rise of Alternative Platforms

With TikTok’s uncertain future, many Americans are already looking for alternatives.

One rising competitor is Red Note, a platform gaining traction as TikTok’s potential replacement. The TikTok controversy could accelerate the growth of alternative platforms, much like how Twitter’s decline led to the rise of Mastodon and Bluesky.

If this trend continues, we could see a fragmentation of social media, where users split across multiple platforms, weakening the dominance of any single app.

Final Thoughts: A Warning for the Future?

The January 19th TikTok ban was not really a ban—it was a display of power, a propaganda tool, or a negotiation tactic. But regardless of the motivations behind it, the event raises serious concerns about the future of social media, political manipulation, and global tech conflicts.

  • If TikTok can be used as a political tool, so can any other social media platform.
  • If governments can “ban” and “unban” apps at will, what does this mean for online freedom?
  • If the US continues down this path, will China retaliate in ways that affect global tech and trade?

One thing is clear: social media is no longer just about entertainment—it’s a battleground for politics, power, and propaganda. And in this new era of digital warfare, users must stay vigilant, questioning not just what they see online, but also the forces shaping the platforms they use every day.