🎾 Rising tennis superstar Coco Gauff isn't just acing serves—she's also speaking up for her favorite app! The World No. 3 and 2023 U.S. Open champion shared her hopes that TikTok, the international version of China's popular short video app Douyin, can keep going despite potential bans looming in the United States. 🇺🇸
After her impressive 6-3, 7-5 victory over Great Britain's Jodie Burrage at the Australian Open, Gauff told reporters, \"I hope TikTok extends. It's a great thing for a lot of small businesses in our country and creators to spread stories.\"
TikTok has been under the microscope in the U.S. 📹🔍, facing scrutiny over national security concerns, legislative action, and lawsuits. The app, launched in 2017 by ByteDance, skyrocketed in popularity, becoming the second most downloaded app worldwide in 2019! 🌍📈
But for Gauff, it's not just about stats and politics—it's about a sassy pig named Merlin! 🐷💬 \"There's a lot of trends. There's 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 laughed. With over 755,000 followers on TikTok, Gauff is just one of millions who could be affected by a potential ban.
The journey hasn't been smooth for TikTok in the U.S. Since 2020, efforts to restrict the app have been in motion, citing data concerns and alleged ties to the Chinese government. Things heated up in 2024 when Congress passed the \"Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,\" giving the president power to ban apps deemed national security threats. 😱📜
TikTok didn't take it lying down. They sued the U.S. government, arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment rights of the company and its users. Legal battles reached the Supreme Court, but no immediate decision was made. ⚖️🤔
As of January 19, TikTok has been removed from app stores and stopped working in the U.S., impacting over 170 million American users. 😢📵
For young stars like Coco Gauff and countless others, the loss of TikTok isn't just about entertainment—it's about community, creativity, and connection. Will Merlin the talking pig find a new platform? Only time will tell! 🐖✨
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Tennis Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff hopes TikTok isn't banned in U.S.
cgtn.com
