I was visiting Instagram on Saturday night when someone I follow posted: “…it’s gone!” Of course, I immediately opened TikTok to find the now familiar message. “A law has been enacted…” I then started changing my VPN settings to different countries. Nope. Uh oh. Nada. Wouldn’t work anywhere. Shock. I thought the VPN was gonna do the trick.
Quickly I opened Lemon8. Same problems. I had downloaded Lemon8 as a possible alternative before reading the fine print not exactly exclaimed by mainstream media. It too is Chinese owned and falls under the same law.
First shock and disbelief, and then disgust. I can’t say I disagree with the law but, how did it ever go so far? I’ve lambasted Congress more than once for being irresponsibly flat-footed in dealing with Internet regulation in regard to privacy and access. This blunder is especially irresponsible because so much is at steak as thousands earn income and millions have friends and communities on TikTok.
And then Sunday TikTok came flickering back to life as Mr. Trump promised an extension and no prosecution while he seeks an answer to save US TikTok. Relief, chagrin, doubt.
Today as President Trump was sworn in he repeated his promise to grant an extension while praising TikTok as instrumental in helping him campaign to win large numbers of younger voters. But, isn’t that the problem? Maybe not. There haven’t been any accusations that TikTok manipulated algorithms on Trump’s behalf.
On the other hand Joe Biden pardoned his friends, associates and family on the way out the White House door, inluding the Jan. 6 committee. Except, I didn’t see Pelosi mentioned for her role in the ridiculously understaffed security on Jan. 6. I’ve called for her prosecution for intentionally leaving the door open for the rioters to march into on that day. She set a trap. Prosecute that.
Be that as it may, it seems to me that while Joe may be covering his ass fearing malicious prosecution he also seems to be leaving a clue about his legacy for posterity: “Yeah, we’re guilty, we did it.” So, either way, he’s not throwing any rocks at Trump about TikTok as he flees off into the sunset.
I also have to remember that the COVID conspiracy was launched in China. I have no doubt. Joe also pardoned Fauci and I suppose others that apparently went along with the COVID conspiracy. The irony that TikTok found its wings during COVID hadn’t dawned on me until now. At this point, the ban is going to hurt US citizens more than Chinese gub’ment. That’s just wrong but again I have to ask how it ever went so far.
Trump’s executive order extending the impending ban by 75 days based on a (non-existent) sale in the works seems a little thin but probably will hold. But only for that long.
There’s too much at steak and Saturday nights reality check will prompt creators and users to take the probably still impending ban more seriously. Creators may not have sufficiently promoted their alternative platforms, for instance. I hadn’t even found all my favs in other places thinking there would be workarounds. If the deadline approaches again, everyone will more diligently prepare.
As I see it, the problem is Chinese gub’ment hasn’t given any indication they are willing to divest. And according to Rand Paul Bytedance is already diversified, albeit with still foreign investors, leading me to wonder if Bytedance could even sell enough of the company to give US investors enough control if they wanted to.
I still hope they can find a legitimate way to save US TikTok. But again, I have to agree with the law that sets limitations on media company ownership. Social media has blurred those lines but it seems to me Congress should have acted sooner. In the final analysis, it was inevitable all along, and now it seems just a matter of time.
The clock is TikToking…
©2025 – Jim Porter Casey
