The battle over TikTok in the United States has reached a critical moment, with the popular social media platform warning that it will go dark on Sunday, January 19, unless President Joe Biden’s administration provides assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they won’t face penalties for keeping TikTok online.
The move follows a landmark Supreme Court decision upholding a TikTok ban on national security grounds, requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or cease operations in the U.S. With no buyer in sight, TikTok’s future remains uncertain—but former President Donald Trump has hinted he may intervene.
TikTok’s Legal Battle and Supreme Court Ruling
For years, U.S. officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership, arguing that the app could allow the Chinese government to access American user data. In response, Congress passed a bipartisan law demanding that ByteDance divest from TikTok or face a ban.
On Friday, January 17, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the ban does not violate free speech protections under the First Amendment. This decision puts TikTok’s fate entirely in the hands of the U.S. government.
Why Is TikTok at Risk of Being Banned?
The White House has signaled that Biden will not step in to save TikTok, leaving tech giants like Apple, Google, and Oracle in a difficult position. If these companies continue to host TikTok in their app stores or provide cloud services, they could face massive fines for violating the new law.
ByteDance has not made significant efforts to sell TikTok, raising speculation that it may be unwilling to part with the app’s powerful recommendation algorithm—the key to TikTok’s success.
Trump’s Role in TikTok’s Future
Despite previously attempting to ban TikTok in 2020, Donald Trump has recently shifted his stance, suggesting that he plans to take action to save the app. His decision, however, remains unclear.
Trump confirmed that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok and stated, “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned!”
Adding to speculation, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to attend Trump’s second inauguration on Monday, potentially signaling discussions about the app’s future.
How Are TikTok Users Reacting?
With over 170 million U.S. users, TikTok has become an essential platform for content creators, small businesses, and digital marketers. The potential ban has sparked panic among influencers who rely on the app for income.
Lourd Asprec, a TikTok creator with 16.3 million followers, expressed shock over the news, saying, “I don’t even care if China takes my data. I’ll go to China myself and give them my data!”
Many users are scrambling to find alternatives, with some migrating to Chinese-owned platforms like RedNote, despite language barriers and unfamiliar algorithms.
What’s Next for TikTok?
Unless TikTok finds a buyer or Trump takes action, the app will disappear from U.S. app stores and lose key infrastructure support after January 19. While a return remains possible under a new administration, its future remains uncertain.
For now, TikTok users and creators will have to wait and see if Trump follows through on his promise to intervene—or if TikTok will truly go dark in the United States.
