Is TikTok closing? Is it not closing? We have identified these questions in search traffic in Italy and they are an indication of the doubts, hopes, concerns and rumors that are circulating.
We tell you right away that the platform is far from closing its doors. This – at least – technically and universally speaking. Given the current climate, however, it makes sense to put TikTok's future in the Western market is up for debate. If we don't talk about closure soon, there is a big chance that we will see some transformations important. Transformations, which are already in place since TikTok became popular.
TikTok has become a communication model. Model that has demonstrated success, doing school immediately. In 2017, from China, it arrives on an international scale: just three years later, Instagram Introduces Reels, in 2021 YouTube introduces the Shorts, in 2022 too Facebook integrates Reels.
In conclusion: the TikTok model is a hook, engaging as a viral content. It attracts attention and discussion, especially of a moral nature. TikTok creates a generational divide all over the world, while the grey areas in social regulations and the ambiguous relations between China and the West, fuel suspicions of illicit profiling, misinformation for purposes of sabotage politician e espionage.
In June 2020 India is the first country to completely ban the app. This was followed by a wave of investigations, bans and restrictions by the European Union, a dozen of its member states, the United States, Nepal, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia…
Lately also theAlbania bans TikTok e in Italy the hypothesis of closure is circulating.
Is this a verified news or is it just a hypothesis? What's the mood for TikTok a international level? How does the platform fit into the current technological warfare with Chinese big tech?
Content index
Is TikTok closing in Italy this year?
Currently There are no restrictions, nor official communications of a concrete closure of TikTok in Italy. But the news has been circulating for a while and – without going into the merits of rumors and conjectures – it could theoretically be founded. Or at least make us think.
First of all, there is a generational divide. The older people, notoriously, tend to demonize the platform. This happens all over the world. But Italy – as we know – It's a country for old men.
Quotes aside (off topic, sensationalistic and reductive) the numbers speak for themselves: The median age in Europe is increasing and Italy is among the countries with the greatest impact. From the data which you read in the linked article from Il Sole 24 Ore, you just need to do two calculations to realize that 35,8% of the Italian population is between 50 and 94 years oldA high percentage, which is also reflected in the Executive: the average age of the Meloni Government is in fact 60 years.
Is this enough to say that TikTok is closing in Italy? Absolutely not, but it is a factor to be observed as a whole.
Public opinion, victims of challenges, measures by the Privacy Guarantor and the EU
In Italy and Europe, TikTok has been in the crosshairs for a few years of public opinion and of the protection bodies of the security and privacy.
Let us just think of the media cases that tell of very young lives cut short from dangerous challenges spread across the platform.
Let's think about the case of Antonella Sicomero (10 years old) which encouraged – in 2021 – a measure of the Guarantor for the Protection of Personal Data, who has arranged a temporary block regarding the processing of data of users whose age has not been verified.
This measure was followed by another one from the EU, which in February 2023 TikTok banned for government and public officials' devices.
Let us think of the victims of the "Blackout Challenge" and other challenges. Let's think about how these can be a punch in the stomach of public opinion, devastating for the image of TikTok, for its brand identity also. It is not enough to point out that there is much more on TikTok, which offers different experiences and uses. It's not enough to say that news is often exaggerated and that the the responsibility is not all of the platform.
It is of little use to say that the use does not determine the means and that TikTok is more of the brainrot, of fake news, of ballets and the challenges that kill kids.
Albania's Signal, Where TikTok Shuts Down Until 2026
The factors we have just examined speak to the stomach, offering a unique vision. Vision, which can be fueled and exploited for political purposes. Albania has just completely banned TikTok despite criticism and attempts to persuade the prime minister to reconsider, who declared:
"The problem today is not our children. The problem is us. The problem is our society and what it is becoming. The problem today is TikTok and all the other tools that are holding our children hostage.”
Together with the actions of other countries, Albania is sending a strong signal: nations have the power over life and death. social platforms.
Again: this is enough to say that TikTok closes in Italy? Again, absolutely not. Does the current climate in Italy, Europe and the Western world favor the closure of TikTok in Italy? It could – in part – but a closure based only on moral reasons not supported by data and evidence, risks conflicting with the very principles of the Digital Service Act that TikTok – it is accused – does not respect.
Indeed the situation is more nuanced. There are different solutions on the table – beyond accusations and tug-of-war – and TikTok seems to be taking steps to redeem its image and stay afloat.
The gray area of regulations, suspicions of espionage, the wars between big tech
Surrounded by the grey area of social regulation worldwide, TikTok is in a tricky position. It's not the only platform that finds itself struggling with privacy security issues, profiling…but let's remember that TikTok is Chinese.
So, besides being in a grey area, it is at the center of technological wars and guerrilla warfare involving big tech, entrepreneurs with enormous political influence and national governments. We have seen and are seeing this also in the field ofartificial intelligence – for example through the accusations made against the Chinese DeepSeek – together to suspicions of espionage explicitly declared on several occasions by various Western and non-Western nations.
But this is precisely where our current negative interpretations about the future of TikTok in Italy and the rest of the world could be overturned.
Trump Threatens to Shut Down TikTok… and Then Proposes US Participation 50%
The United States in fearing the TikTok shutdown in Italy they undoubtedly did their part… at least initially.
Trump threatened to ban the platform in all the Federated States, unless the Chinese ByteDance (the mother of TikTok) not sell US operations. The message in a nutshell is: TikTok can continue to exist in the West but with greater Western control, so as to avoid ethical concerns and the espionage. Her request was locked from the courts and revoked from Biden.
POI At the end of 2024 Trump returned to the attack, even announcing a closing date: January 19, 2025.
But 3 days later he signs an order postponing the ban by 75 days. And he makes these statements:
Statements joined to another that makes us reflect:
“I would be open” (on the idea of Elon Musk buying TikTok) “if he wants” (Source HANDLE).
No one can prove that Musk wants to buy parts of TikTok. But it certainly has an impact that Trump only hints at the possibility, given the current situation in which the owner of the social X is increasingly involved in the political and economic decisions of the largest and most influential Western giant.
Is TikTok Shutting Down or Adapting to Stay Afloat?
Meanwhile – while joint ventures and transfers of control are being discussed – at the end of last year, TikTok announced The third transparency report on content moderation in Europe on its official communication channel, where it returns compliance results to the Digital Services Act European.
At this point let's try to summarize to understand if TikTok closes or not and how it will adapt:
- For at least 4 years, Europe has been pressuring TikTok to comply with the Digital Service Act, which we have just seen the platform commit to doing.
- Non-EU countries can arbitrarily impose blockades and restrictions, even for moral reasons alone.
- TikTok divides generations across the world.
- In Italy, the negative image of TikTok is fueled by tragic media cases, cultural and anagraphic factors.
- The Italian Data Protection Authority launched investigations and restrictions before the EU blocked TikTok on government devices and public officials.
- Chinese big tech, both in the social and AI fields, are under fire for privacy and espionage issues.
- The United States – after threats of closure – proposes a 50/XNUMX joint venture to avoid blockades.
TikTok is not closing
In essence TikTok is not closing, it is not closing and it is 99,9% certain that it will not close in 2025. Its future seems to include blockades in some countries – sure – but the platform It is currently present in over 150 countries and in 75 languages.
Given the current climate it seems that TikTok will continue to adapt to the various Western countries where it is most convenient for them to operate: in Europe it will have to ensure adherence to the most stringent standards in the world on the regulation of social media and AI; in the States it will have to open up to doing business.
And in the meantime, in Asia it's going great. In Indonesia, there are 127,5 million active users, overtaking the role of main market that the USA had, right in the same country that in 2018 had banned TikTok for 8 days for investigations on inappropriate content.
