TikTok is at risk of a U.S. shutdown by January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court intervenes to block or delay a new law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest U.S. operations. The law, passed in April 2024, stems from national security concerns about TikTok’s potential data-sharing with the Chinese government. TikTok argues the mandate violates First Amendment rights, while the U.S. government maintains the app poses a security threat.
The Supreme Court has expedited its review, with oral arguments scheduled for January 10, 2025. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in negotiating a resolution, suggesting his ability to broker a deal once in office.
If enforced, the ban would impact TikTok’s 170 million American users and redirect an estimated $10 billion in advertising revenue to competing platforms like YouTube and Instagram. The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences for TikTok’s future in the U.S. and for the broader tech industry.
