As TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, the Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could reshape its role in American digital life. National security, data privacy, and concerns about spreading harmful narratives are central to the debate.
Supreme Court Reviews TikTok’s Ban in the US
The US Supreme Court heard arguments on January 10 regarding the nationwide TikTok ban case, which centers on national security concerns.
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The Court is reviewing the case and will likely deliver a ruling before January 19, when the law banning the short-video app is set to take effect.
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest its US operations by January 19, 2025.
The US government has raised concerns that ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok presents risks, including the potential for the Chinese government to use the app to collect sensitive data on American citizens or spread disinformation to influence U.S. public opinion or political processes.
If TikTok fails to comply with the law, it could be removed from US app stores, effectively preventing its use in the country.
In 2024, TikTok had approximately 1.04 billion monthly active users worldwide, with 170 million users in the United States. The platform collects vast amounts of personal data from its users, including location, browsing behavior, and content preferences.
Crypto Videos on TikTok Are Misleading
TikTok is a popular platform among global crypto users, especially those seeking crypto-advice-related content.
However, a recent study by CryptoNinjas, which analyzed over 1,000 TikTok crypto videos, revealed that 68% of crypto advice content on TikTok is misleading.
More than half (58%) of these videos promote specific cryptocurrencies, primarily Bitcoin (34%), XRP (21%), and Solana (16%). The vast majority (96%) of TikTok videos promoting memecoins were found to be misleading. Additionally, 61% of the videos lacked disclaimers.
Over a third (35%) of such videos promise unrealistic returns on investment (ROI) in crypto, with half even specifying exact amounts to invest.
The analysis also found that 70% of influencers in these videos use the platform to promote paid their paid services.
On average, each misleading crypto video on TikTok received 840,000 views and 24,000 likes.
On the Flipside
- TikTok isn’t the only platform facing disinformation concerns. Facebook recently made headlines for ending fact-checking, while Elon Musk’s X platform and its owner are under scrutiny in the EU for influencing national politics.
Why This Matters
Given TikTok’s extensive reach and engagement, the scale of misinformation on the platform could have significant consequences. A TikTok ban in the US could also set a precedent for regulating foreign-owned tech platforms, impacting both the social media and crypto sectors.
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