The Great TikTok Tug-of-War: A Timeline of Trivia on the App’s American Odyssey

In the world of apps where swipes and clicks rule, TikTok has danced its way into a unique controversy. Picture this: an app so catchy that even your cat knows the choreography, now facing the music from Uncle Sam himself. Let’s unwind the reels of the US TikTok ban timeline, packed with more drama than a season finale of your favorite series—now with a sprinkle of trivia!

The Rise and Stall of the US TikTok Ban: A Timeline of Tantalizing Trivia

The Musical.ly Merger: TikTok’s Opening Act (2017)

Once upon a time in 2017, ByteDance, a giant from the East, decided their app needed a western remix. They snagged Musical.ly, fused it with TikTok, and voilà, a social media powerhouse, was born. This move didn’t just make headlines; it stirred the pot in Washington, cueing the first whispers of “national security.”

Trump’s TikTok Timeout Threat (July 2020)

Imagine being so influential that the President himself thumbs a tweet contemplating your ban. That was TikTok in July 2020, as President Trump cited everything from pandemic politics to espionage fears. TikTok’s response? Probably something like, “Can’t we all just dance it out?”

Executive Orders on the Dance Floor (August 2020)

With the grace of a reality TV show host wielding executive power, Trump laid down the law: TikTok needed an American home, or it was time for the last dance. Transactions with ByteDance were suddenly as taboo as socks with sandals.

FBI’s Algorithm Alarm (December 2022)

The FBI joined the chat in December 2022. Director Chris Wray didn’t just worry about your data privacy—he worried TikTok could turn your puppy video binge into a brainwashing bonanza with algorithm tweaks.

Congress Cranks Up the Pressure (March 2024)

As the calendar flipped to 2024, Congress got into the groove, pushing for TikTok to go red, white, and blue or shut down. Bipartisan beats were rare, but both parties were ready to DJ when it came to TikTok.

Biden’s Big Banhammer (April 2024)

Fast-forward to April 2024, when President Biden signed the “you better sell or farewell” mandate. TikTok’s new challenge? Find a US buyer, or face the ultimate “For You” page—For You to Shutdown.

Conclusion

As we watch the TikTok ban timer tick down, let’s not forget the app that taught us moves we never knew we needed and brought endless scrolling through bite-sized spectacles. Will TikTok manage a pirouette out of this political pas de deux, or is this the final curtain? Stay tuned for more trivia-laden updates—because in the world of news-turned-trivia, every fact has its funky backstory.

FAQs

News Trivia Quiz Time: TikTok Quiz

Now that you know all the facts about the US TikTok ban, how about a news quiz?

TikTok Quiz

Social Media quiz: 12 TikTok trivia questions from the news headlines. How smart are you today?

1 / 12

1. In which country was the popular Tik Tok app developed?

Argentina

China

South Korea

USA

TikTok, owned by ByteDance Ltd., a Chinese company, is now based in Singapore. TikTok says it has “no affiliation” with Beijing ByteDance Technology, a ByteDance entity at which the Chinese government took a stake and a board seat in 2021.

2 / 12

2. What is the nationality of TikTok’s CEO?

Screenshot: New York Times Events  – YouTube

Martian.

American.

Chinese.

Singaporean.

While TikTok is owned by the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Shou Zi Chew, the CEO, is a Singapore-based tech finance executive.

Why does it matter?

Concerns about the app’s ties to China and potential harm to kids have led to calls for a ban in the United States and Europe. The company defended itself against critics in 2020 by pointing out it had an “American CEO,” Kevin Mayer, a Disney exec. By pointing out that a Singaporean CEO leads TikTok, TikTok once again distanced itself from ByteDance in a letter to US lawmakers in June 2022.

3 / 12

3. What do people mainly do with the Tik Tok app?

Shere animated memes.

Share short video clips.

Share selfie pictures.

Share written ideas.

TikTok is a short-form video service. Just checking your concentration.

4 / 12

4. Google is the most popular domain in the world. What’s the second most popular domain?

Photo: Solen Feyissa via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Facebook.

TikTok.

Microsoft.

Apple.

As of mid-Sept. 2022, TikTok is the second most popular domain in the world, after Google, according to online performance and security company Cloudflare. As reported by NewsGuard on Sept. 14, 2022, nearly one in five videos that TikTok automatically suggests when searching for videos related to prominent news topics contained misinformation. TikTok’s official community guidelines prohibit harmful misinformation. Chinese company ByteDance owns the app.

5 / 12

5. At least nine US states, including Texas, prohibit what app on state government devices and computer networks?

Image: HowSmart.net using OpenAI’s DALL·E

WhatsApp.

Twitter.

Instagram.

TikTok.

On Dec. 12, 2022, Alabama and Utah joined Texas, Maryland, South Dakota, and four other US states in banning the use of TikTok on state government devices and computer networks.

Is TikTok dangerous?

In November, FBI Director Chris Wray warned that the Chinese government could control data collection and algorithms used in the app to target millions of US users. A TikTok spokesperson said the warning was “unfounded, politically charged falsehoods about TikTok.”

6 / 12

6. Does John Lennon have a Tik Tok account?

Yes.

No.

TikTok and the John Lennon estate (alongside Universal Music) partnered to give creators access to several of his most popular songs. There’s also a dedicated John Lennon account. The first video was posted in September 2020.

TikTok and the John Lennon estate (alongside Universal Music) are partnering to give creators access to several of his most popular songs. There’s also a dedicated John Lennon account, which currently boasts more than 23,000 followers. The first video was posted in September.

7 / 12

7. In Oct. 2022, Madonna kind of announced she was “gay.” How?

Screenshot: madonna (@madonna) on TikTok

On Oprah.

In a song.

On Twitter.

On TikTok.

A TikTok video posted on Oct. 9, 2022, featured Madonna playing basketball with pink pants and a trash can. The pop star captioned the video, “If I miss, I’m Gay.” When missing the shot, Madonna waved a peace sign.

8 / 12

8. How many people use TikTok in the EU?

Screenshot: Euro News – YouTube

12.5 million.

125 million.

1.25 billion.

None. They are all too busy with Eurovision.

By February 2023, TikTok had an average of 125 million active users in the EU. In October 2022, there were 65.9 million TikTok users in the US, with two-thirds of teens using it. The number of Canadians on TikTok is relatively small (26%), but 76% of people 18-24 have an account.

What is the TikTok ban?

The European Commission temporarily banned TikTok from staff phones over cybersecurity concerns on Feb. 23, 2023. The reason: The Chinese government could use TikTok to promote pro-Beijing views or sweep up users’ information. The White House on Feb. 27 gave government agencies 30 days to ensure they do not have the Chinese-owned app on federal devices. By Feb. 28, Canada announced its own ban on TikTok from all government-issued devices. China’s foreign ministry said that the US government has been “overstretching the concept of national security.” and “suppressing other countries’ companies.”

9 / 12

9. Which of these happened just hours before TikTok’s CEO told Congress that China didn’t influence his company?

Screenshot: C-Span – YouTube

He met with Chinese officials at a secret location.

China’s commerce ministry announced it opposes a TikTok sale.

TikTok announced a feature allowing China to monitor user activity.

China declared that TikTok was a front for Chinese espionage.

China’s commerce ministry declared it opposed a TikTok sale just hours before Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, testified before Congress about TikTok’s ties to China on March 23, 2023.

What was his testimony about?

During the five-hour testimony, Republican and Democratic lawmakers repeatedly asked Chew if TikTok was spying on Americans on behalf of the Chinese government, which he strongly denied. Chew also said that ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government – a notion undermined by China’s commerce ministry’s earlier statement.

10 / 12

10. Which US state became the first to pass a bill banning TikTok from app stores?

Illustration: HowSmart.net & DALL-E

“The Golden State”

“The Lone Star State”

“The Treasure State”

“The Free Peach State”

Montana passed a bill that makes it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok in the state. The bill was motivated by concerns about potential Chinese spying through the app. It specifies that the ban would be lifted if TikTok is sold to a non-Chinese company or Congress passes a law banning TikTok nationwide. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the unprecedented law on May 17, 2023, making Montana the first state to ban TikTok from app stores starting Jan. 2024. Nonetheless, it will face legal challenges from TikTok and other groups claiming it violates free speech rights.

11 / 12

11. Which Hollywood studio film was the first to be officially uploaded on TikTok (in 23 parts)?

Screenshot: Paramount Movies – YouTube

"Clueless"

"Mean Girls"

"Heathers"

"Modern Times"

“Mean Girls” celebrated “Mean Girls Day” on Oct. 3, 2023, by launching the entire film on TikTok, divided into 23 parts. It’s the first Hollywood studio film adapted for TikTok. Fans celebrate this day due to a notable scene where Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) informs Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) that the date is Oct. 3. Paramount Pictures made this strategic move to bring the beloved 2004 movie, written by Tina Fey, to a younger audience. Fans of the franchise can look forward to the upcoming “Mean Girls” movie, based on the Broadway musical adaptation, set to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.

12 / 12

12. Why did the EU open an official investigation into TikTok in Feb. 2024?

Screenshot: euronews (youtube.com)

TikTok possibly breaching online content rules to protect minors and ensure transparency.

TikTok possibly breaching online privacy rules through its China connection.

The platform’s innovative recipe videos causing a continent-wide avocado shortage.

TikTok’s excessive use of cute animal videos leading to productivity drops across Europe.

The European Union, in its role as the guardian of digital spaces, has turned its regulatory gaze towards TikTok. On Feb. 19, 2024, the EU launched a formal investigation into TikTok over concerns that the platform might not be doing enough to protect its youngest users – the minors, from falling down the so-called “rabbit holes” of content that could be harmful. This investigation also scrutinizes TikTok’s compliance with the Digital Services Act, focusing on the platform’s addictive design, age verification processes, and default privacy settings.

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Sources

We cross-checked our US TikTok ban facts with the world’s leading news outlets.

• TikTok ban: A timeline of the app’s history | AP News Article
• Video: Legislation that could ban TikTok is now law. Here’s what happens next | CNN Business Article
• TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What’s the legal outlook? | ABC News Article