Everything That Happened With TikTok Over The Weekend

Tech Why everyone on your For You Page was posting #drafts. by Kaitlyn Wylde Aug. 3, 2020 vorDa/E+/Getty Images

Through July, TikTok Was Under Scrutiny

Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images On July 6, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration considered banning TikTok , claiming ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, could be forced to give user data to the Chinese government ( which TikTok disputes ).

President Trump Threatened To Kill The App Via Executive Order

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images "As far as TikTok is concerned we're banning them from the United States," Trump said on July 31, adding that it “ could be gone by Saturday .” At the same time, U.S.-owned Microsoft shared they were in talks to buy the app from ByteDance .

Users Said Their Goodbyes

Screenshot via TikTok Over the weekend, creators posted videos from their draft folders , a last hurrah to share content in the event that the app ceased to exist. Creators also shared their handles on other platforms like Instagram or YouTube, as a kind of forwarding address.

I would just continue dancing, like I have my entire life. — Charli D'amelio, on what she'd do if TikTok got banned.

Then, TikTok Got On The For You Page

NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images TikTok's U.S. general manager Vanessa Pappas made an optimistic statement saying that the app isn't going anywhere.

"100 million Americans come to TikTok for entertainment and connection, especially during the pandemic ... We are committed to protecting our users' privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform."

So, Is Microsoft Buying TikTok?

VIEW press/Corbis News/Getty Images By Aug. 1, it seemed that Microsoft would save the day by buying TikTok from ByteDance. But negotiations stalled when Trump said he didn’t support the potential deal , despite previously suggesting that a U.S.-owned version of TikTok was the goal .

Snapchat, Instagram, & Other Apps Are Stepping In

recep-bg/E+/Getty Images Anticipating a ban, users have started migrating to Byte and Triller, while Snapchat and Instagram are adding TikTok-like features to their existing apps.

The threat of a ban definitely puts creators on shaky ground. Other platforms will definitely be another outlet for creators, but I think ultimately the content will be different. TikTok creator Adam Rose

So What Happens Now?

OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images As of Aug. 2, talks between Microsoft and ByteDance are back on the table. “Microsoft will move quickly to pursue discussions with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance … completing these discussions no later than September 15, 2020,” Microsoft said in a company blog post.

TL;DR?

TikTok probably isn't going anywhere — for now. You still have time to practice your "Savage" dance.