TikTok ban: App warns it will 'go dark' on Jan. 19 without Biden administration clarity
WASHINGTON - TikTok will be banned in the U.S. starting on Jan. 19, 2025, unless the popular social media platform cuts ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, according to a new Supreme Court ruling. But there are some questions about whether the ban will actually be enforced.
The high court on Friday ruled in favor of arguments about the national security threat posed by the company's connections to China, overriding concerns about restricting the speech either of TikTok or its millions of users in the United States.
On Friday evening, TikTok announced it will be "forced to go dark" on Sunday, Jan. 19, unless the Biden administration provides a definitive statement assuring that the app’s tech partners won’t face penalties under a law requiring its China-based parent, ByteDance, to divest its stake. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected TikTok's appeal to halt the law, leaving over 170 million U.S. users in limbo.
"The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans," TikTok said Friday. "Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19."
For its part, TikTok has said it plans to shut down the platform in the U.S. by the deadline if the government were to prevail.
However, President Joe Biden will not enforce a TikTok ban before he leaves the White House on Monday, a source told The Associated Press – ultimately leaving it up to President-elect Donald Trump. And Trump is exploring options to "preserve" the app.
Supreme Court decision
The 27-page ruling came down Friday morning, just days after the court heard arguments about the constitutionality of the law. While the ruling was unanimous, at least one of the justices worried that the quick pace of the case may not have allowed the court to fully consider all aspects.
What they're saying:
"There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary," the unsigned opinion stated. "We conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights."
"The question we face today is not the law’s wisdom, only its constitutionality," Neil Gorsuch offered in his own concurring opinion. "Given just a handful of days after oral argument to issue an opinion, I cannot profess the kind of certainty I would like to have about the arguments and record before us. All I can say is that, at this time and under these constraints, the problem appears real and the response to it not unconstitutional."
PDF: Read the full Supreme Court ruling
What is the TikTok ban law?
What we know:
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which passed with bipartisan support last year and was signed by President Joe Biden, cites national security concerns over the company’s ties to the Chinese government. It mandates that ByteDance sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
If the sale is not completed by that date, TikTok will be blocked from U.S. app stores, and existing users will lose access to updates and support. ByteDance contested the law, claiming it violates First Amendment rights, but the court’s actions mean it will move forward with the deadline.
What we don't know:
When the government will enforce the ban. With President Biden's term ending on Monday and Donald Trump returning to the White House, the deadline comes amid a change in power – and, potentially, philosophy.
AP sources say Biden does not plan to immediately enforce the ban. Trump, who initially supported the TikTok ban, has recently said he would look into ways to keep it online.
"He’s a deal maker," Trump's pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, said this week. "I don’t want to get ahead of our executive orders, but we’re going to create this space to put that deal in place."
RELATED: Biden won’t enforce TikTok ban, leaving fate of app up to Trump
It's also not clear what could replace TikTok. The app currently has more than 170 million users in the U.S. Some experts think established social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, could see the biggest influx of TikTok's former users. But some users are looking for something different and could turn to other apps like RedNote, which also has Chinese ownership.
RELATED: Rednote, Lemon8: What to know about the possible alternatives to TikTok
FILE - A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone with the U.S. flag in the background on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
When will TikTok shut down?
Timeline:
TikTok plans to shut off its app for U.S. users on Sunday, the day the federal law will ban the app, according to The Information, citing two people familiar with the company’s plans.
The website reported that under the plan, users attempting to open the TikTok app will instead see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban. TikTok plans to give users the option to download all their data so they can take a record of their personal information with them, The Information reported, citing anonymous sources.
Alternatives to TikTok
Dig deeper:
TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. has some users searching for other social media platforms to consume and create content.
What is Lemon8?
Lemon8 is a photo-based app that is a combination of Instagram and Pinterest and is sprinkled with videos resembling ones posted on TikTok. It launched in the U.S. in 2023, a few years after it debuted in Asian markets.
The social media app collects user data, such as IP address, browsing history, device identifiers and other information. Like TikTok, Lemon8’s main feed has a "following" section that allows users to look at content from creators they follow, and a "For You" section that recommends other posts.
Will RedNote replace TikTok in the U.S.?
As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu. Lindsay Gorman, managing director & senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States Technology Program, joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.
What is RedNote?
RedNote launched in 2013 and has become one of China’s fastest-growing social platforms, with a value of over $17 billion, the USA Today reported, citing the Financial Times.
The social media platform is known as Xiaohongshu, which means "little red book," has a layout similar to Pinterest and is described as a Chinese version of Instagram. According to TechCrunch, the app’s focus on short-term content, similar to TikTok, has helped it become a legitimate alternative.
RELATED: Duolingo reportedly sees spike in Americans learning Chinese as TikTok users move to RedNote
The Source: This story was reported using information from the federal law on TikTok’s security threat and the U.S. Supreme Court case TikTok Inc. v. Garland. It was reported from Cincinnati. Daniel Miller and the Associated Press contributed.