July 11, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Congress just turned up the heat on TikTok. In a rare moment of unity, lawmakers passed a new bill that gives TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a clear choice: sell the app’s U.S. operations or say goodbye to millions of American users.
Why? Lawmakers say the app might be a backdoor for data spying and subtle influence—accusing it of putting American privacy, especially young people’s, at risk. The bill gives ByteDance until November to cut ties or TikTok will be banned from app stores and U.S. internet access altogether.
While TikTok faces a ticking clock, its rivals are thriving.
YouTube and Instagram have stepped into the spotlight. YouTube Shorts is gaining massive traction. Instagram Reels? Buzzing. Creators who once built entire careers on TikTok are already shifting their content to these platforms—trying to hold on to their followers while the future of their main stage is up in the air.
Big brands are moving too. Companies like Nike and Sephora have started moving their ad money away from TikTok. Instead, they’re doubling down on YouTube and Instagram where things feel, well, more stable. Even music labels are rethinking where they drop new tracks and launch promos.
The shift is fast. The creator economy, which once spun around TikTok like a planet around a sun, is now looking for a new center of gravity.
And it’s not just creators feeling the change. Millions of users are caught in the middle—scrolling, watching, unsure if their favorite app will still be around by the end of the year.
TikTok says it’s not going down without a fight. Legal battles are expected. ByteDance hasn’t made it clear what it will do—but time is running out.
This moment feels bigger than one app. It’s about who controls the digital stage—and who gets to speak, earn, and shape culture in the years ahead. As lawmakers call for more oversight and platforms scramble to pick up the pieces, one thing is certain: the internet is shifting again.
Press Contact:
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee
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