TikTok Faces Ban by Sunday After Supreme Court Rejects Appeal

The Supreme Court's rejection of TikTok's appeal paves the way for a potential ban on the platform in the U.S., commencing Sunday, January 19th. The court unanimously dismissed TikTok's First Amendment challenge, citing the app's scale, vulnerability to foreign influence, and extensive data collection as justifying national security concerns.

TikTok faces a potential U.S. shutdown this Sunday. Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

While President Biden prefers TikTok to remain available under American ownership, the implementation of the ban falls to the incoming Trump administration. The Supreme Court ruling acknowledges TikTok's significant user base and expressive capabilities but upholds Congress's determination that divestiture is necessary to address national security risks.

Despite past opposition to a TikTok ban, President-elect Trump may issue an executive order delaying enforcement for 60-90 days. Reports suggest he's engaged in discussions with Chinese officials regarding the matter. The possibility of a complete sale to a Western entity remains uncertain, although reports indicate this is being considered. Elon Musk, with ties to the incoming administration, is reportedly involved in facilitating potential purchases, possibly even becoming a buyer himself.

In anticipation of a ban, TikTok users have migrated to alternative platforms like Red Note (Xiaohongshu), with reports indicating a surge of over 700,000 new users in just two days.

TikTok's future in the U.S. hinges on either a successful sale or a last-minute executive order from the Trump administration. Otherwise, the app faces a complete shutdown.