Why TikTok Just Got Another 90 Days in the U.S. — and Why That Might Not Matter

Photo by FMT

This week, President Trump signed an executive order giving TikTok yet another 90-day extension to continue operating in the United States. It’s the third time since January that the deadline to force a sale or ban of the app has been pushed forward. TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is still expected to divest its U.S. operations — but with no deal in place and Beijing's approval far from guaranteed, it’s unclear what this extension actually achieves.

For now, TikTok’s 170 million American users can continue scrolling, posting, and creating. But behind the scenes, the legal, political, and geopolitical risks remain entirely unresolved.

A Law With No Teeth

The push to remove TikTok from Chinese ownership began with bipartisan concern over national security and data privacy. Lawmakers worry that ByteDance, as a Chinese company, could be pressured to share U.S. user data with Beijing. As a result, the U.S. passed legislation mandating a forced sale — or a ban.

But so far, the law has been more symbolic than effective.

But so far, the law has been more symbolic than effective. Each time the deadline nears, it’s quietly extended. While this avoids immediate backlash — especially from creators and young voters — it also signals to allies and rivals alike that enforcement may not be coming anytime soon. The law exists, but it’s stuck in political and legal gridlock.

Beijing Holds the Real Power

Even if a U.S. buyer for TikTok emerges — which is far from certain — any sale involving the platform’s core technology would require approval from China. That’s because TikTok’s algorithm, the engine behind its “For You” feed, is now classified as a restricted export under Chinese law. These rules were updated in 2020, and they directly target the kind of personalized content technology that TikTok uses.

ByteDance can’t legally sell TikTok’s full U.S. version without the algorithm — and the algorithm can’t be sold without Beijing’s green light. So even if the U.S. administration insists on a sale, it might be pushing for a deal that China won’t allow.

TikTok Isn’t Waiting

While governments stall, TikTok keeps building. The company is launching AI video tools, expanding in Europe, and deepening its global presence. In the U.S., its influence remains massive — not just culturally, but politically. Even Trump himself uses the app and has over 15 million followers on it.

For creators, brands, and everyday users, the extension is a relief. But the bigger question lingers: how long can a platform this powerful remain in legal limbo?

So Why Doesn’t It Matter?

This 90-day extension might feel like progress, but it’s more like a timeout with no game plan. The structural issues — national security concerns, algorithm export controls, geopolitical rivalry — haven’t changed. If anything, they’ve hardened. With each extension, the U.S. appears less certain about how to handle foreign tech threats, and China’s leverage over the deal becomes more apparent.

What matters most is not how many days TikTok gets, but who ultimately controls the technology behind it. As of now, that answer hasn’t changed — and this extension hasn’t brought it any closer.