The looming question surrounding TikTok persists: Will the platform face a ban in the United States? With time running out, the stakes are high as ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, navigates a recently enacted mandate.
In a significant legislative move, President Joe Biden enacted a bill in April 2024. This law compels ByteDance to divest its ownership of the popular short-form video application within a stipulated nine-month timeframe, or risk a nationwide ban.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has publicly criticized the bill, asserting that it infringes upon the free speech rights of U.S. citizens. Since then, the company has actively sought to challenge the bill’s validity.
Potential Ban Timeline for TikTok
If ByteDance fails to divest by January 19, 2025, TikTok will be removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. However, there remains a possibility that the government may delay the enforcement of the bill, leaving the situation somewhat uncertain.
Moreover, it has been suggested that the anticipated ban could extend to other ByteDance-owned applications, such as Lemon8 and CapCut, with their app store availability also at risk of being terminated on the same date.
Despite the ongoing challenges, TikTok has expressed a strong unwillingness to sell its platform, particularly over the valuable algorithm that fuels the app’s widely praised For You Page. This algorithm is a key element of TikTok’s identity and user engagement.
In spite of its thwarted attempts to delay the law, TikTok remains committed to fighting the impending legislation. Notably, the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear TikTok’s case on January 10, 2025—just nine days before the potential enforcement of the ban.
The outcome of the hearing is yet to be determined, but there is a chance that SCOTUS could issue a stay on the ban while they consider the arguments presented by TikTok and the U.S. government. This would temporarily halt the enforcement of the law.
As developments unfold, we will continue to provide updates on the situation regarding TikTok and the potential timelines for a ban.
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