TikTok Founder Zhang Yiming and the Threatened US Ban

Zhang Yiming, known for creating the popular app TikTok, is facing the biggest challenge of his career. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently dealing with the constitutionality of a national security law that could effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. Zhang, who became China's richest man in 2021, owes much of his wealth to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, where he is the largest individual shareholder. His entry into the tech world was strategic and pursued with a clear goal: he wanted to create a company that would be successful beyond China's borders. This ambition led him to the idea of offering user-centered content rather than relying on social networks, an approach that has proven extremely effective. However, while TikTok is globally successful and generates 22% of its revenue from the U.S., among other countries, political and legal hurdles limit the potential market. Zhang, who now lives in Singapore and has stepped back, leaves it to other ByteDance executives to deal with political challenges in the U.S. Whether the app will continue to exist in the U.S. now depends on the Supreme Court and future administrations. Meanwhile, Zhang remains true to his vision and demands that his executives become fluent in English to advance the company's global orientation. In the meantime, Zhang continues to enjoy his passion for intellectual challenges and business with artificial intelligence. Despite the uncertainties, he remains committed to his global strategy and awaits what may come.