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., slated to begin Sunday, January 19th. The court unanimously dismissed TikTok's First Amendment challenge, citing the platform's scale, susceptibility to foreign control, and extensive data collection as justifying the government's national security concerns.

Without political intervention, TikTok will cease operations on Sunday. While President Biden prefers American ownership of TikTok while maintaining its U.S. availability, the implementation of the ban falls to the incoming Trump administration.

The Supreme Court's ruling acknowledged TikTok's significance for its users, stating that it provides "a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression," but upheld the ban as necessary to address national security concerns.

Despite previous opposition to a TikTok ban, President-elect Trump may issue an executive order delaying enforcement for 60-90 days. Reports suggest he's engaging in discussions with Chinese officials regarding the matter. The possibility of a sale to a Western entity remains uncertain, but reports indicate this is being considered. Elon Musk, involved with the incoming administration, is reportedly acting as a potential intermediary for interested buyers, or may even make a bid himself.

In anticipation of the ban, users are migrating to alternative platforms like Red Note (Xiaohongshu), which saw a surge of over 700,000 new users in just two days, according to Reuters.

TikTok's future in the U.S. hinges on a sale or a last-minute executive order from the Trump administration.