A deal has been reached between the Trump administration and China to keep TikTok operational in the United States, officials said this September 15. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a framework agreement is in place, with President Donald Trump expected to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on September 19 to finalize the terms.
The agreement follows years of uncertainty over the app’s future after Congress passed a law in 2023, signed by former President Joe Biden, that banned TikTok in the US over national security concerns. The app was only allowed to keep operating in the US if its China-based owner, ByteDance, divested its stake in the US assets of the social media company.
Indeed, around the world, many governments have restricted social media platforms. Often it's because of political turmoil, such as protests, elections, or military activity. Other reasons are to combat disinformation, national security concerns, data privacy, or cultural sensitivity. Some of these restrictions are long term and ongoing, while others are more sporadic.
Curious to learn more? Click on to discover the countries that have banned X, TikTok, and/or Facebook.