Women’s tennis World No. 3 and 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff has voiced her hopes that TikTok will not be banned in her home country. Speaking to reporters after her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage at the Australian Open, Gauff shared her thoughts on the potential shutdown of the popular social media platform.
“I hope TikTok extends,” Gauff said. “It’s a great thing for a lot of small businesses in our country and creators to spread stories.”
TikTok, the international version of Douyin, a short video app popular in China and created by ByteDance, has faced increasing scrutiny in the United States. Concerns over national security and data privacy have led to legislative actions culminating in the platform’s shutdown.
Gauff, who boasts over 755,000 followers on TikTok, also shared what she would miss most if the app were to disappear—a pig named Merlin. “There’s a lot of trends. There’s like this pig online, his name is Merlin, and he knows how to press buttons so he can talk. It’s a pretty sassy pig, so I will miss Merlin the most,” she said.
Launched in 2017, TikTok quickly became a global phenomenon, ranking as the second most downloaded app worldwide in 2019, according to data analysis firm SensorTower. However, that same year, the U.S. Department of Defense recommended all military personnel delete the app due to security concerns.
The administration of former President Donald Trump initiated efforts to restrict TikTok in 2020, citing potential ties to the Chinese government. These efforts faced legal challenges that stalled their implementation. Under President Joe Biden, legal cases related to the ban were initially postponed, but rival companies continued to portray TikTok as a threat.
In the spring of 2024, the U.S. Congress passed the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” empowering President Biden to ban apps deemed national security threats. He signed the bill into law, setting a deadline for ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations.
TikTok responded by suing the U.S. government, arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment rights of the company and its users. On January 10, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case but did not immediately issue a decision.
Despite the legal battle, TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday. The app was removed from the Apple and Google app stores ahead of the law taking effect on Sunday, January 19, requiring the shutdown of the platform used by 170 million Americans.
As the situation unfolds, Gauff’s sentiments reflect those of many users and creators who have built communities on TikTok. The potential ban not only impacts entertainment but also small businesses and content creators who rely on the platform to reach audiences.
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Tennis Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff hopes TikTok isn't banned in U.S.
cgtn.com
