April 5, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — TikTok’s future in the United States remains in limbo as the federal government has granted the company a 75-day extension to find a U.S.-based buyer, delaying a potential nationwide ban that had been looming.
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign-owned technology companies and ongoing concerns over data privacy and national security. U.S. lawmakers have expressed fears that TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, could be used to collect data on American users and potentially influence public opinion.
The extension is intended to give TikTok and interested buyers additional time to finalize a deal that would result in the platform’s U.S. operations being owned by an American entity. Among the reported interested parties are high-profile tech and media companies, as well as a number of influential public figures.
Despite the new deadline, critics argue that the delay undermines the urgency of addressing the alleged risks posed by the app. Some lawmakers say the law passed last year clearly set parameters for action and that further delays erode its credibility.
TikTok remains one of the most downloaded apps in the U.S., particularly popular among younger audiences who use the platform for entertainment, education, and social connection. The company has repeatedly denied allegations that it poses a threat to U.S. users, emphasizing its efforts to store data on American servers and implement transparency measures.
Meanwhile, TikTok has also announced the shutdown of its experimental photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes. The service, which was intended to compete with Instagram, will be discontinued in May following a lackluster reception in initial testing markets.
As the deadline extension moves the ban into summer, both TikTok users and potential investors are closely watching how the situation unfolds, with the future of one of the world’s most influential social platforms hanging in the balance.