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From Viral Sensation To Trump Target: How TikTok Became Caught In US-China Tensions

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. and China have a deal that would keep TikTok operating in the United States, in an agreement that marks a breakthrough in months-long talks between the world's two biggest economies.
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  • From: India News Bull
    From Viral Sensation To Trump Target: How TikTok Became Caught In US-China Tensions
    TikTok's Journey: From Launch to Geopolitical Flashpoint
    On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough agreement between the United States and China that would permit TikTok to continue operating in America. The president subsequently issued an executive order extending the deadline for divesting Chinese ownership of TikTok until December 16, delaying enforcement of a 2024 law.
    The arrangement involves transferring TikTok's U.S. assets from Chinese parent company ByteDance to American owners. The platform currently serves approximately 170 million U.S. users.
    ByteDance made history as the first Chinese company to achieve worldwide success with a consumer application, attracting increasing scrutiny from foreign governments, particularly Washington. Concerns centered on potential Chinese government access to U.S. user data, which could enable surveillance of Americans or influence campaigns through the platform.
    Below is a chronological overview of TikTok's rise to global prominence and its entanglement in U.S.-China relations.
    2012 - ByteDance is established in Beijing by Zhang Yiming.
    2016 - ByteDance introduces Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
    2017 - TikTok is launched globally. ByteDance acquires U.S. applications Flipgram and Musical.ly.
    2018 - ByteDance merges Musical.ly into TikTok. Indonesia temporarily bans TikTok for "inappropriate content" but lifts restrictions after TikTok agrees to content moderation changes and establishing a local office.
    February 2019 - ByteDance pays a $5.7 million fine to U.S. regulators over Musical.ly's unlawful collection of children's personal information.
    March 2019 - TikTok exceeds 1 billion downloads worldwide across Apple's App Store and Google Play.
    April 2019 - A Tamil Nadu court requests India's federal government ban TikTok downloads, citing promotion of inappropriate content. The temporary restriction lasts two weeks.
    Late 2019 - CFIUS begins reviewing ByteDance's acquisition of Musical.ly.
    April 2020 - TikTok reaches 2 billion global downloads.
    May 2020 - Former Disney executive Kevin Mayer becomes TikTok's CEO.
    June 10, 2020 - European regulators begin examining TikTok's practices after the Netherlands launches an investigation into the company's child data protection measures.
    June 29, 2020 - India prohibits TikTok and numerous other Chinese applications, citing security concerns following a border conflict with China.
    July 7, 2020 - President Trump suggests banning TikTok as retaliation against China for COVID-19.
    July 29, 2020 - Japanese lawmakers from the ruling party urge government action to restrict TikTok usage over concerns about data security.
    July 31, 2020 - Trump announces plans to ban TikTok within 24 hours.
    August 2, 2020 - Microsoft explores acquiring TikTok operations in multiple Western markets.
    August 4, 2020 - Australia's Prime Minister states no evidence warrants TikTok restrictions.
    August 6, 2020 - Trump issues executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance and WeChat after 45 days.
    August 8, 2020 - Twitter reportedly conducts preliminary negotiations regarding TikTok's U.S. operations.
    August 12, 2020 - ByteDance engages in investment discussions with India's Reliance.
    August 13, 2020 - Republican senators request FTC investigation into TikTok's data collection practices.
    August 14, 2020 - Trump orders ByteDance to divest from TikTok's U.S. operations within 90 days.
    September 14, 2020 - ByteDance selects Oracle over Microsoft as its U.S. partner.
    September 18, 2020 - Trump administration announces app store bans for WeChat and TikTok effective September 21.
    November 2020 - ByteDance challenges Trump's divestiture order and receives extensions.
    January 27, 2021 - ByteDance begins reducing its 2,000-person India team.
    February 2, 2021 - Douyin files lawsuit against Tencent alleging monopolistic practices.
    March 11, 2021 - Pakistan temporarily blocks TikTok until April 16.
    March 22, 2021 - ByteDance acquires gaming studio Moonton in a reported $4 billion deal, followed by C4games acquisition.
    March 24, 2021 - ByteDance hires Xiaomi executive Shouzi Chew as CFO.
    April 30, 2021 - Shouzi Chew becomes TikTok's CEO.
    March 2, 2022 - Eight U.S. states investigate TikTok's potential health impacts on young users.
    December 20, 2022 - U.S. government prohibits TikTok on federal devices.
    February-March 2023 - European Commission, EU Council, European Parliament, and Canada ban TikTok on government devices over cybersecurity concerns.
    March 23, 2023 - TikTok CEO Chew testifies before Congress, denying data sharing with Chinese authorities. TikTok discloses $1.5 billion investment in "Project Texas" data security efforts with Oracle.
    May 17, 2023 - Montana enacts first statewide TikTok ban.
    May 25, 2023 - TikTok explores AI chatbot "Tako" in the Philippines.
    March 14, 2024 - U.S. House passes legislation giving ByteDance approximately six months to divest TikTok's U.S. assets or face ban.
    April 24, 2024 - President Biden signs law establishing January 19, 2025 deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok.
    May 7, 2024 - TikTok and ByteDance file federal lawsuit challenging Biden's divestiture law.
    August 2, 2024 - U.S. Justice Department sues TikTok and ByteDance over children's privacy violations.
    October 8, 2024 - Thirteen U.S. states and Washington D.C. file lawsuits against TikTok for harming young users.
    December 6, 2024 - Federal appeals court upholds ByteDance divestiture law.
    January 10, 2025 - Supreme Court signals inclination to uphold divestiture law.
    January 18-19, 2025 - TikTok temporarily ceases U.S. operations and disappears from app stores before service restoration following President-elect Trump's intervention. Deadline extended to April.
    March 21, 2025 - White House-led negotiations focus on non-Chinese ByteDance investors increasing stakes and acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations.
    April 4, 2025 - President Trump extends TikTok sale deadline.
    May 4, 2025 - Trump announces extension of June 19 deadline.
    June 19, 2025 - Trump issues third extension, moving deadline to September 17.
    June 29, 2025 - Trump reveals potential buyers for TikTok, described as "very wealthy people."
    July 9, 2025 - TikTok reportedly developing standalone U.S. app with separate algorithm and data systems.
    July 18, 2025 - Blackstone withdraws from investment consortium pursuing TikTok's U.S. operations.
    August 19, 2025 - White House launches official TikTok account.
    September 14, 2025 - U.S. and Chinese officials meet in Madrid to address trade issues and TikTok's divestiture deadline.
    September 15, 2025 - Officials reach framework agreement for U.S.-controlled TikTok ownership, pending confirmation by Presidents Trump and Xi.
    September 16, 2025 - Trump announces U.S.-China deal preserving TikTok operations with