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US lifts TikTok federal-device ban, highlighting platform’s enduring US appeal: expert_我的网站

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    Chinese actress Luo Xinyuan played Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Luo XinyuanAs China's once-thriving live-action short drama industry looses speed due to the weight of AI-generated content and shrinking investment, a growing number of young actors who once starred in micro-dramas are moving to a different kind of stage: playing roles at cultural tourist attractions. 
There, they play martial arts heroes and folk characters for live audiences, finding steadier income and real-time connection with viewers. 
"Earning a living with your own hands is nothing to be ashamed of," actress Luo Xinyuan told the Global Times, even as many still hold out hope, waiting for good scripts.
The migration reflects a stark reality. In the first quarter of 2026, AI micro-dramas accounted for more than 95 percent of all micro-dramas released industry-wide, sharply squeezing the space for live-action productions. 
By July, pay for leading actors had shrunk by over 50 percent, mid-tier actors by more than 80 percent on average, and daily wages for bottom-rung extras had fallen into double digits, China's CCTV reported.
Luo, a 21-year-old actress, experienced the downturn firsthand. She came to Hengdian, China's largest film and television production base, to shoot short dramas. "When I first arrived, there were many crews preparing in one hotel. Now sometimes there are only one or two, or none," she told the Global Times. 
This May, she began playing the role of Huang Rong, a beloved wuxia heroine, at Hengdian World Studios. Her daily routine includes interactive stage competitions, parades and live audience interactions, working nearly 13 hours daily during the peak summer season.
"It's tiring but fulfilling," Luo said. "There are no scripts here. It's more about playing with visitors face to face." The change has eased her anxiety. "When I was filming, I kept worrying about the next job. Now I feel more stable."
Yin Jiaxuan, 25, took a different route. He started his career as a professional character performer at major theme parks, starring in immersive shows based on popular game and film IPs before transitioning to short dramas and online movies in mid-2024. 
At the industry's peak, he moved seamlessly between sets. 
"One crew wrapped, and the next was already arranged. I'd go straight to makeup the next day and start filming the day after," he said. Now he keeps both identities, taking film roles when they come and returning to scenic spots during holidays.
Yin rejects the stigma that screen acting is the only proper path. 
"Screen acting is seen as the professional main road, while street-level performance is treated as amateur work. This invisible prejudice has trapped many performers," he said. Yet the tangible stage offers something the camera cannot. 
"Performance comes from life and is higher than life - that is the core of film creation. But now I realize that beyond artistic expression, performance is about building human connections."
Both actors shared that theme park characters must do more than act; they must draw tourists into the scene, delivering emotional value on demand. Visitors come to the scenic spot not just to sightsee, but "to step into a fantasy."
    Yin Jiaxuan Photo: Courtesy of Yin JiaxuanScenic areas are reaping the benefits. Media outlets have reported that in Kaifeng's Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City, Central China's Henan Province, tourists who interacted with these characters stayed an average of 2.3 hours longer per day. 
Every extra 30 minutes of stay raises the probability of secondary consumption by about 25 percent, according to local data. Revenue jumped from about 80 million yuan ($11.86 million) in 2022 to 1.27 billion yuan in 2025. 
While Hengdian World Studios has used characters to boost repeat visits, with annual pass holders returning multiple times "for a specific character."
Cultural scholar Yu Jinlong told the Global Times that the influx of trained actors is upgrading immersive tourism. 
"In the past, theme park characters were mostly amateurs doing costume photos. Now professional actors can build complete characters, improvise and connect storylines, turning scenic spots into open-air theaters," he said. 
Yu pointed out the uniqueness of China's character boom compared with global immersive entertainment. 
"Unlike Western theme parks that rely heavily on mature imported IPs and standardized performances, China's scenic character culture is rooted in local wuxia (martial hero) history and folk customs, encouraging personalized improvisation. Many local scenic spots create hit immersive projects with small investments, forming a unique online-offline communication loop via social media," Yu said. 
As China's cultural consumption shifts from sightseeing to participation, Yu said the young actors swapping short drama sets for scenic spots may be shaping a new hybrid career for the country's entertainment workforce.
For Luo, the recognition from visitors is a reward in itself. 
"There are tourists who travel from far away just to see my performance. It feels good to be recognized," she said. "Actually, I'm still exploring too. But I think you should do what you love, as long as you have the ability."
。         TikTok File Photo: VCG
The Trump administration has formally lifted restrictions on the use of TikTok on US federal government devices following the restructuring of the platform's US operations, marking another step toward normalizing TikTok’s operations in the US. Analysts said TikTok's continued operation in the country after years of political and regulatory pressure reflects its deep reach among American users and businesses, as well as the competitiveness of Chinese-developed digital products.
The White House Office of Management and Budget said in a memorandum dated Monday and released Tuesday that TikTok is no longer covered by a federal ban on its use on government devices, effectively lifting a restriction imposed over "national security" concerns tied to the platform's previous ownership by ByteDance.
The decision was based on a legal opinion issued by the US Justice Department in July, which concluded that the version of TikTok now operated by the restructured US joint venture, or TikTok USDS Joint Venture, no longer falls under the 2022 federal government-device ban. The opinion also made clear that individual agencies still retain discretion over whether to allow employees to use the app on official devices. 
TikTok's ability to remain in the US market after years of political and regulatory pressure demonstrates its strong user appeal and commercial importance, Li Yong, an executive council member of the China Society for WTO Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The platform has become deeply embedded in the US digital economy, with American creators and businesses relying on it to reach audiences, generate income and promote their products, he said.
Its continued operation also reflects the broader global competitiveness of Chinese-developed digital products, Li noted. "Despite years of pressure, TikTok has preserved its core functions, business model and value as a global platform, showing that the appeal of a competitive product cannot simply be erased through political or regulatory restrictions," he said.
Any politically driven move targeting companies of a particular country risks eroding foreign companies' confidence in the US market, and ultimately weakening the country's appeal as a stable and predictable destination for global business, the expert said.
TikTok is used by about 170 million Americans, according to the White House, which noted that content creators rely on the platform for their livelihoods and businesses use it to advertise and connect with customers.
Agencies including the Treasury, Transportation and Health and Human Services departments launched TikTok accounts following the Justice Department's July opinion, while the White House had already created an account last year, according to Politico.
In 2022, the US Congress passed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, barring TikTok from federal government devices, with several states later following suit. The pressure escalated in 2024, when Congress required ByteDance to divest control of the platform or face a US ban. TikTok briefly went dark in January 2025 before President Donald Trump delayed enforcement while a divestiture deal was negotiated.
The restructuring was completed in January 2026 with the establishment of TikTok USDS Joint Venture. According to the company's official announcement, ByteDance retains a 19.9-percent stake, while the rest is held by investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX.
Under the new structure, the joint venture oversees US user data, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance. Meanwhile, TikTok has retained global product interoperability, with TikTok global's US entities continuing to manage certain commercial activities, including e-commerce, advertising and marketing, according to the company.
During the China-US economic and trade talks in Madrid, Spain in September 2025, the two sides reached a basic framework consensus on properly resolving the TikTok issue through cooperation, reducing investment barriers and promoting relevant economic and trade cooperation, according to China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).
A MOFCOM statement said that the Chinese government fully respects companies' wishes and supports them in conducting equal-footed commercial negotiations based on market principles. China will also review matters involving TikTok's technology exports and intellectual property licensing in accordance with the law. 
China urged the US to provide a fair, open, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for the continuous and stable operation of Chinese enterprises in the US, so as to promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations, a MOFCOM spokesperson said in December, commenting on the reported agreements to establish TikTok's US joint venture.
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