Its continued operation also reflects the broader global competitiveness of Chinese-developed digital products, Li noted. "Despite years of pressure, TikTok has preserved its core functions, business model and value as a global platform, showing that the appeal of a competitive product cannot simply be erased through political or regulatory restrictions," he said.

　　Any politically driven move targeting companies of a particular country risks eroding foreign companies" confidence in the US market, and ultimately weakening the country"s appeal as a stable and predictable destination for global business, the expert said.

　　TikTok is used by about 170 million Americans, according to the White House, which noted that content creators rely on the platform for their livelihoods and businesses use it to advertise and connect with customers.

　　Agencies including the Treasury, Transportation and Health and Human Services departments launched TikTok accounts following the Justice Department"s July opinion, while the White House had already created an account last year, according to Politico.

　　In 2022, the US Congress passed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, barring TikTok from federal government devices, with several states later following suit. The pressure escalated in 2024, when Congress required ByteDance to divest control of the platform or face a US ban. TikTok briefly went dark in January 2025 before President Donald Trump delayed enforcement while a divestiture deal was negotiated.

　　The restructuring was completed in January 2026 with the establishment of TikTok USDS Joint Venture. According to the company"s official announcement, ByteDance retains a 19.9-percent stake, while the rest is held by investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX.