TikTok has announced it will be forced to shut down its operations in the United States on Sunday, January 19, unless the government intervenes to halt a looming ban.
The video-sharing platform, owned by Chinese parent company ByteDance, made the announcement on Friday, citing the absence of clarity from the White House and the Department of Justice.
The impending ban follows a Supreme Court ruling on Friday, which upheld a law passed last year requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations to a neutral party. The ruling mandates that without such a sale, the app will be removed from app stores and web hosting services, effectively blocking access for new and existing users.
TikTok has challenged the ban, arguing it violates free speech protections for its 170 million US users. However, the Supreme Court’s decision signals the end of months-long legal battles, putting TikTok’s US future in jeopardy.
The Biden administration, set to conclude on Monday, stated that enforcing the law would fall to incoming President Donald Trump. Despite initially supporting the ban during his first term, Trump has recently softened his stance, describing TikTok as a platform that helped him gain traction with younger voters in the 2024 election. He has expressed a desire to review the situation before making a final decision.
“I must have time to review the situation,” Trump said on Friday. He also revealed that he had discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though no concrete details emerged from their talks.
The ban’s impact will extend beyond app stores. TikTok’s latest statement suggests the app may immediately become inaccessible to all US users. This contrasts with earlier assumptions that existing users could continue using the app without updates until it eventually degraded over time.
Influencers and content creators have been bidding farewell to their followers, with some announcing alternative platforms where their content can be accessed. Popular creator Nicole Bloomgarden said losing TikTok would cause a significant drop in her income, while Erika Thompson lamented the loss of educational content on the platform.
Chinese app Red Note, previously little used in the US, has emerged as an alternative for some creators seeking to maintain their audiences.
The US government has cited concerns about TikTok’s links to the Chinese government as the primary reason for the ban. Lawmakers from both parties passed the legislation last year, highlighting fears of Chinese espionage and potential misuse of user data.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the risks, stating, “Authoritarian regimes should not have unfettered access to Americans’ data.” Cybersecurity experts have suggested TikTok collects extensive user data, raising fears of it being weaponized to undermine national security.
China, which enacted a 2017 law requiring companies and citizens to cooperate with its intelligence services, has denied such claims. TikTok has repeatedly stressed that it does not share user data with Beijing, while ByteDance has vowed not to sell the app, opting instead to shut down US operations if the ban is enforced.
As the clock ticks down, the possibility of a last-minute intervention remains uncertain. With 7,000 US employees, TikTok has argued that the ban endangers jobs, stifles free speech, and harms users, advertisers, and content creators alike.
