TikTok is racing against time to avoid a ban in the US. Its future now hangs in the balance as its parent company, ByteDance, makes a final appeal to the US Supreme Court to block a law threatening the app’s ban.
With the January 19 deadline looming, the company has argued that the legislation violates free speech. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, reportedly met President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.
Regulations or Trade Tension with China?
The law, passed by Congress in April, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban. US officials maintain the platform poses significant national security risks, citing concerns over ByteDance’s ability to access American user data and potentially manipulate content.
The app, which has over 170 million US users, has now become the centerpiece of a broader debate about free speech, privacy, and trade tensions with China. ByteDance and TikTok filed an emergency request urging the Supreme Court to halt the impending ban while they appeal a lower court’s decision that upheld the legislation.
A group of US-based TikTok users reportedly submitted a similar plea, Reuters reported. TikTok contends the ban represents government overreach and censorship.
ByteDance emphasized that shuttering the app, even temporarily, would devastate its business model. The company estimates it could lose a third of its US users within one month, crippling advertising revenue and undermining its ability to retain talent.
The dispute has intensified in light of the upcoming presidential transition. President-elect Donald Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has softened his position. Chew reportedly met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida but the deliberations of their meeting remain unknown, the BBC reported.
If the law proceeds, TikTok will disappear from app stores such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play, effectively halting new downloads and updates.
Economic and Cultural Impact
TikTok’s potential ban raises broader concerns about its economic and cultural impact. The app is a major driver of revenue for content creators and advertisers, many of whom depend on its vast user base.
TikTok’s legal battle comes amid escalating trade tensions between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies. Lawmakers have increasingly scrutinized Chinese-owned businesses, citing risks to national security and economic competitiveness. Similar concerns reportedly led to past attempts to ban other apps like WeChat, though courts blocked those efforts.
The Supreme Court is expected to decide on TikTok’s emergency request by January 6. If denied, ByteDance will face the complex task of shutting down operations in the US or finalizing a sale under intense pressure.
