The Supreme Court has upheld a law requiring ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to divest its ownership of the app by Sunday, January 19, 2025. If ByteDance does not comply, the app could be effectively banned in the U.S., making it unavailable for download or updates.
Here’s everything you need to know about the decision, the deadline, and the potential impact on users, content creators, and businesses.
What’s at stake?
- Potential nan: If ByteDance doesn’t sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by the deadline, third-party app stores, like Apple and Google, will be penalized for offering the app. This could mean TikTok would be removed from app stores and would stop working for new users or those unable to update.
- What happens to current users? Users who already have TikTok installed on their phones may still be able to access the app—but ByteDance has threatened to shut it down entirely, depending on the outcome of the case.
Why is this happening?
The ruling stems from the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act signed by President Joe Biden in April. The law aims to reduce potential security risks posed by foreign control of apps like TikTok, which has ties to China through ByteDance.
What does this mean for users?
- Possible alternatives: With the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S., many content creators are urging their followers to find them on other platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Increased competition: Platforms like Instagram are preparing for a potential surge in users. RedNote, a TikTok alternative, recently surged to the top of Apple’s app store, showing that users are already exploring new options.
What role does President-Elect Trump play?
While the Biden administration supports the law, President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office just one day after the deadline, has asked the Supreme Court to pause the law’s enforcement. If Trump chooses not to enforce the law, it’s unclear how third-party providers will respond.
What’s Next?
- Law’s Enforcement: If ByteDance does not sell TikTok, the app could be removed from app stores. However, whether this will happen depends on the actions of President Trump’s administration.
- Impact on content creators: Many TikTok creators, who rely on the app for business and brand-building, may see a shift in their audience to competing platforms. As Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube brace for potential new users, TikTok creators may need to shift their focus to those platforms to stay connected with followers.
Basically, the next few days will be paramount for the platform and its millions of users. While the app is not yet banned, the January 19 deadline is vastly approaching. Content creators and businesses should consider diversifying their online presence and be prepared for a possible shift in user engagement to other social platforms.
