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TikTok ban 2025: US Supreme Court TikTok Ban Decision Looms

The Supreme Court is set to decide on a law that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States by January 19th unless the app is sold or the court intervenes.

This decision has sparked widespread discussion on social media about the implications for users, creators, and small businesses reliant on TikTok.

Amidst this uncertainty, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has seen an increase in users on its alternative app, Lemon8, though it too could face a ban.

TikTok alternative app Lemon8 has seen a 150% increase in users, with over 10 million Americans joining this year alone as TikTok faces a potential ban next week.

Lemon8 is owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, which means Lemon8 would also be banned, including all of ByteDance’s apps. This will happen on January 19th unless the Supreme Court blocks or delays this.

Why Ban TikTok?

In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that requires TikTok to be sold to a non-Chinese entity by January 19, 2025, or face a ban in the US. This law is part of broader efforts to address concerns over data privacy and the potential for foreign influence through the app.

TikTok, along with its parent company ByteDance, has challenged the law in court, arguing it infringes on free speech rights under the First Amendment.

Several legal battles have ensued, with the case reaching the US Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 10, 2025, and appeared inclined to uphold the law, although the final decision is yet to be made.

If the Supreme Court does not block the law, and ByteDance does not divest TikTok by the deadline, app stores would be barred from offering TikTok for download, and existing users would no longer receive updates, leading to the app becoming functionally obsolete over time. However, existing users would not lose immediate access to the app.

President-elect Donald Trump, who has had a fluctuating stance on TikTok, has asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban, indicating a preference for negotiating a political solution post-inauguration. This situation has added a layer of uncertainty to the immediate future of TikTok in the US.

There’s a mix of confusion, scepticism, and strategic planning among TikTok users and creators. Many users are unaware or sceptical of the ban, while creators are diversifying their presence across other platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

If the ban is upheld, TikTok could either be sold to a US company, significantly altered in operation to meet national security standards, or effectively disappear from the US market.

However, if Trump’s administration decides to negotiate or if the Supreme Court rules in favor of TikTok, the app might continue to operate under new conditions or delays.

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