Liam Walsh
Liam is a Co-Director at Intelligency and heads up the agency's Digital Intelligence & Paid Social activity. Over the last decade, he has worked with brands from the world of sports such as Premier League clubs to entertainment such as Channel 4 and Disney.
TikTok’s Popularity and Growth
TikTok has become one of the most popular apps in the U.S., attracting over 170 million users in less than seven years. Globally, the app has been downloaded more than 2 billion times, thanks to its appeal across all age groups. Despite its success, TikTok now faces the threat of a complete ban in the U.S., set to take effect on January 19, just before Donald Trump takes office.
The Threat of a Ban
The U.S. government cites national security concerns over TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. These concerns echo India’s 2020 ban, which cut off 200 million users, with the government claiming the app posed risks to sovereignty and security. ByteDance is fighting the U.S. ban with three potential options: appealing to the Supreme Court, persuading Trump to reverse the decision, or selling TikTok to a U.S.-based company—a move that now seems unlikely.
What is next?
While the U.S. would be a significant loss, it wouldn’t be TikTok’s first major hurdle. Other regions, such as the European Union, have introduced partial bans, limiting the app’s use among government workers and military personnel. Despite these challenges, TikTok’s growth has remained strong. Last year alone, it was downloaded 52 million times in the U.S. and 733 million times globally. Some organizations argue that banning TikTok would harm free speech, as the app has become a key platform for communication and creativity.
As ByteDance fights to keep TikTok available in the U.S., the case highlights the growing tension between technology, privacy, and national security. Whether the app survives the ban or not, its cultural impact will continue to resonate worldwide.
