Everything You Need to Know About the TikTok Ban

With just days left before a Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok owner ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets, or otherwise accept a ban of the app in the country, some 170 million American users have pressing questions about what’s about to happen to the mega-popular video platform. 

The Supreme Court has now heard arguments against a law signed by President Biden last spring, and already upheld by a lower court’s ruling last month, that is meant to shield American social media users from the influence of the Chinese government and protect their personal data. ByteDance, which bought the app Musical.ly and merged it into TikTok in 2017, is based in Beijing. Critics of the Biden administration’s crackdown on the foreign company have said it represents an attack on free speech and the livelihoods of content creators, while the Justice Department continues to portray TikTok as a national security risk.

SCOTUS currently seems inclined to adopt the latter view and side with the lower court’s ruling, leaving ByteDance — absent some kind of last-minute deal brokered by the likes of President-elect Donald Trump or billionaire Elon Musk — in the lurch.

What’s the chance that the TikTok Ban goes through?

Extremely high. The Supreme Court heard arguments in TikTok’s challenge to the law last Friday, and all signs point to the justices siding with the government — just like the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals did unanimously last month. If and when the Supreme Court rules that the law is constitutional, the ban is all but assured to take effect on Sunday, Jan. 19. There’s a very small chance the Supreme Court could stay the ban and give Trump the opportunity to use the power of the presidency to keep TikTok alive, and an even smaller chance that ByteDance could somehow sell TikTok to a U.S. entity before Sunday — but the justices upholding the law is far more likely. TikTok sees the writing on the wall, and is reportedly preparing to shut down U.S. operations on Sunday.
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Why can’t they just sell?

In short, because they don’t want to. TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has said repeatedly that they have no interest in selling. TikTok is only a fraction of ByteDance’s business, and the platform isn’t even making money for the company despite its popularity in the U.S. ByteDance appears ready to kill TikTok altogether rather than part with the invaluable algorithm that powers it. There’s been some interest in buying the platform without its secret sauce, most notably from billionaire Frank McCourt, and multiple outlets reported this week that China was exploring a sale to Elon Musk — but both of these outcomes feel like moonshots as the ban deadline draws near.

If the ban happens, can you still use TikTok after Sunday?

The most immediate effect of a ban going into effect would be the removal of the TikTok app from Apple’s and Google’s app stores, meaning Americans could effectively no longer download or update it. You also won’t be able to access TikTok through a web browser, because internet providers — just like Apple and Google — face stiff fines under the new law for facilitating access to TikTok or its updates. (However, you may be able to look at TikTok on a browser with the aid of a virtual private network, or VPN, which masks your location.)   

Although it won’t be illegal to keep TikTok on your phone or tablet, it appears that those who previously installed on their devices will not retain access. Sources say the company is planning to go dark for U.S. users, much as it did for users in India when that country banned the app in 2020. Most likely, if you attempt to open TikTok, you’ll see a message saying the service is not available and directing you to information about the ban. Users will reportedly also have the option to download their personal data. If at some point the ban is lifted, TikTok should be able to restore access quickly and easily.
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Why is TikTok so popular in the first place? 

There are close to 170 million active TikTok users in the U.S, according to the company. And an app doesn’t get that kind of dedicated user base unless it offers consumers a reason to open the platform — and then stay on it as long as possible. TikTok’s infinite scroll provides a siren song for the average user, encouraging them to keep swiping for more. The app’s for-you page has no end, and ByteDance’s goal has long been to provide TikTok users with video after video that appeals to their unique interest, thereby keeping them engaged. It’s one of the reasons why, if TikTok is sold without its algorithm, the chances of the app working as effectively are very small. 

The other aspect of TikTok’s success is its in-app video editor. In fact, this will probably be what crowns the app’s successor. TikTok’s platform democratized social media and video platforms by making editing easy. Creators could take videos from their iPhones and cut them down without any extended editing knowledge. Think about the videos that trend on Facebook, Instagram, and even X (formerly Twitter). They all have a TikTok watermark at the bottom. Why? Because creators still use the app for editing. And even if TikTok goes away, whichever platform makes it easier to post will probably see the biggest increase in users.

What would a TikTok ban mean for the music industry?

For the past five years, TikTok has been the most important marketing tool in the music industry, with many of today’s biggest hits launching from viral trends as songs get repeatedly featured in hundreds of thousands of videos. TikTok changed the way record labels discover new artists and push new songs, while also giving independent artists a platform to share their music on their own. TikTok’s disappearance would create a hurdle particularly for unsigned or upcoming acts relying on the app to promote their work or build their fanbases. 

Still, this is far from the first time the music business has braced for a TikTok shut down. And while the app is still where many new hits are born, some executives have said in recent years that with TikTok becoming so saturated with content compared to the early days, scoring a viral hit can be as much of a lottery as any other platform. Some artists and labels have said they’ve tried to diversify their strategies to not rely so heavily on one platform, though competitors like Reels or YouTube Shorts haven’t yet proven able to break songs at the same pace as TikTok. But if the app is gone, a new short form platform will likely take its place. 

“It doesn’t stop with a viral moment, but it can be a great launching pad for a career, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I would hope if it were no longer around, we’d see somebody step up and take their market,” manager Chris Anokute told Rolling Stone back in 2023, when a ban seemed likely. 

What happens with TikTok’s U.S. workforce?

TikTok employs thousands of people in the U.S., and while the app seems poised for an American ban, according to an internal memo reviewed by Rolling Stone, the company has assured its workforce that their jobs are not currently in jeopardy.

“As employees in the U.S,, your employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline,” TikTok told its U.S. team. “The bill is not written in a way that impacts the entities through which you are employed, only the U.S. user experience. We are part of a global company with over a billion users. Together, we will continue to navigate this situation to protect you and our community of 170+ million U.S. users.”