In just over a week, the fate of one of the world’s most popular apps hangs in the balance as the US TikTok ban looms large on January 19. For years, the US government has been grappling with concerns about Chinese influence and threats to remove TikTok from American app stores. Despite these ongoing threats, TikTok has continued to thrive, now facing a potential ban that feels more real than ever.
Efforts to ban TikTok escalated last spring when the House of Representatives passed a bill mandating ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face a ban. While this bill initially failed in the Senate, a subsequent effort became law in April, setting a deadline for ByteDance to comply by January 19. As the deadline approaches and a sale looks increasingly unlikely, ByteDance is making its final stand before the Supreme Court.
ByteDance’s lawyers have argued that China’s influence does not impact TikTok’s operations and that banning the app would impede Americans’ free speech rights. However, the Supreme Court’s response to these arguments seems unfavorable, with predictions of TikTok’s chances of avoiding the ban dropping from 30% to 20%. If the ban does go into effect, TikTok may cease to exist as US companies would be prohibited from supporting it.
There is still a glimmer of hope for TikTok, as the court could grant a temporary stay allowing the app to operate while further measures are considered. Regardless of the outcome, the clock is ticking, and soon we will know the fate of TikTok in the US. The future of this beloved app hangs in the balance, leaving users, supporters, and critics alike eagerly awaiting the final decision.
