TikTok is bracing for a complete shutdown in the US this Sunday, January 19th, as a federal ban is set to take effect, according to a report from Reuters.
This comes after a long legal battle and despite ongoing negotiations between ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, and the US government.
The law, signed in April, will prohibit new downloads of the app and bar US companies from providing services like updates and maintenance.
While existing users might still be able to access the app initially, it’s expected to eventually become unusable. TikTok is reportedly preparing a message that will appear when users try to open the app, directing them to a website for more information about the ban.
A last-minute reprieve is still possible. President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to delay the ban, but it is unclear how this could be done legally.
Another option might involve Elon Musk. In this scenario, a potential merger of TikTok US with X would increase X’s user base and advertising revenue. Musk has previously expressed his opposition to a TikTok ban, citing free speech concerns.
The Chinese government prefers that TikTok stay under ByteDance’s control. The next few days will be critical as TikTok figures out its future in the US market.
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