Just one day after the U.S. government was talking about banning TikTok, the app suddenly wasn’t at risk anymore. So, what changed?

Earlier in the week, the U.S. government was worried that TikTok, owned by a Chinese company ByteDance, could be used to spy on Americans. They were concerned that the Chinese government might access personal data from TikTok users, like their location and browsing habits. Because of this, laws passed through the Supreme Court that allowed for TikTok to be banned January 19, 2024. So, many people thought TikTok was about to be gone for good.

“I honestly don’t know what I would have done with out TikTok. No other app hits the same,” shared sophomore Gabriela Punzo.

But the next day, not even 24 hours later, everything changed. The U.S. government announced that TikTok wasn’t going to be banned after all. Instead, TikTok made an agreement with the government to store U.S. users’ data in safer locations and allow American officials to review how they handle privacy. This deal helped ease some of the concerns about spying and showed that TikTok was taking steps to protect users.

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So, what does this mean for TikTok users? Right now, the app is still available, and you can keep using it as usual. With over 100 million users in the U.S. alone, TikTok is a huge part of many people’s online lives. The app’s popularity likely played a big role in the government’s decision not to ban it.

“I think that the TikTok ban wouldn’t do any good for the U.S.. I think it would cause many business owners to suffer financially,” said sophomore Catalina Betancourt.

While TikTok is safe for now, the situation shows how quickly things can change. Even though the app is still around, the U.S. government might continue to monitor it and ensure it’s following the new rules. For now, TikTok users can relax and keep enjoying the app, but the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.