The topic of the TikTok ban that occurred in mid-January has been a widespread topic of contention because of worries concerning privacy and national security. Many are concerned that TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese-based ByteDance, shares user data with the Chinese government. Although TikTok says it stores U.S. data here and not with China, users remain wary when using the app. In 2023, the Biden administration gave TikTok an ultimatum; it could either sell its U.S. operations to an American company or risk getting banned. Certain U.S. states and government agencies have already banned TikTok on government phones for safety reasons. In India, the app is banned in its entirety. The European Union has also been discussing the app’s future in the region. The TikTok administration has attempted to ease these worries surrounding safety, privacy, and the spread of misinformation by promising to store American data locally.