The United States Supreme Court has ruled unanimously (9-0) to enforce a ban on TikTok starting Sunday unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform. The ruling comes amidst national security concerns raised by US officials over data privacy and potential access by the Chinese government. However, President Joe Biden, in his final hours in office, has announced he will not enforce the ban, leaving the decision to his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office on Monday.
In a statement, the White House clarified its stance: “TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law.”
TikTok, which serves over 170 million American users and more than 1.5 billion globally, now faces critical decisions. At a recent Supreme Court hearing, TikTok’s legal team indicated the app might “go dark” in the US if the ban takes effect. Users attempting to access the platform may instead encounter a message redirecting them to information about the ban.
Reports suggest that TikTok might decide to shut down operations for US users outright, prioritizing its global audience. Alternatively, enforcement of the ban could lead to a gradual decline in the app’s functionality as companies like Apple and Google remove it from their app stores, blocking updates and new downloads.
Some TikTok creators have already begun migrating to alternative platforms. Notably, the Chinese app Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has surged in popularity, with over 700,000 new US users joining in just two days. The app has become a rallying point for users resisting the ban, with hashtags like #TikTokRefugees trending among new adopters.
President-elect Donald Trump, a prominent TikTok user with over 14.8 million followers, credited the platform with helping him regain the presidency. While he cannot overturn the Supreme Court ruling, Trump could choose not to enforce the ban and assure app store hosts like Apple and Google that they won’t face prosecution for keeping TikTok available.
Trump has yet to clarify his position but stated he needs time to review the situation. “I will make a decision quickly,” he said after the ruling, signaling potential action upon entering the White House.
If the ban holds, experts predict a redistribution of TikTok’s audience. Adam Tinworth, a social media analyst, noted that established platforms like Meta’s Reels and Alphabet’s YouTube Shorts are likely to benefit, as they did when India banned TikTok in 2020. Trump himself has expressed concerns about the implications of the ban, stating last year: “Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people.”
As the clock ticks down to Sunday, the fate of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, with users and industry players anxiously awaiting the next move from the incoming administration.
