Now that the US Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban, here’s what will happen to your app
TikTok is actually getting banned next week.
The Supreme Court voted in a unanimous decision Friday, Jan. 17 to uphold a law that requires the Chinese-owned video-sharing app to be sold by Jan. 19 or be banned, according to the Associated Press. A sale does not look feasible, meaning that Americans will likely not have access to the app after Jan. 20.
TikTok has over one billion users, 150 million of whom live in the U.S. The social media video app debuted in China in 2016 and made its way to the states in 2018. Users who create an account must give a valid phone number, email address and birthday.
Here’s what will happen to the TikTok app on your phone.
Why is TikTok being banned?
Eyebrows started to raise over TikTok in April 2024, when President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill that forced ByteDance to either sell TikTok or stop streaming in the U.S.
Congress also felt that the social media app was an avenue for China to steal citizens’ information, posing a national security threat.
On Jan. 10, 2025, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the ban. They appeared ready to uphold Biden’s law. One key point the justices mentioned was the law says TikTok can stay if it has a different algorithm other than the one created by ByteDance.
“The law doesn’t say TikTok has to shut down. It says ByteDance has to divest,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
If someone or a company decides to last minute purchase TikTok from ByteDance, the ban deadline will be extended for 90 days to allow for the sale.
Who could buy TikTok?
Considering that TikTok has a nine-figure price tag, there are very few who are able to purchase the social media app.
Billionaire Frank McCourt sent ByteDance a letter on Jan. 9, proposing a deal. He estimates that the app is worth $20 billion here in the States.
However, ByteDance has said a sale is not likely. The Chinese government will not take a sale that blocks the app’s algorithm.
The last time TikTok was about to be sold was in 2020, under President Donald Trump. Oracle and Walmart nearly sealed the deal but never followed through.
Some still hold hope that Trump will buy the app or somehow reverse the ruling (the ban takes place on Biden’s last day of office), since he has opened up about discussing the ban with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
What will happen to my TikTok app?
Experts are not entirely sure what will happen to the app if the ban sticks. There are a few possibilities:
It will likely disappear from app stores overnight. The ban makes it illegal for Apple or Google app stores to offer the social media site.
The app will likely stay on your phone if already downloaded. It is unclear whether the app will be accessible post-ban. It may slowly deteriorate since it will no longer take updates in the U.S.
TikTok could block U.S. users. There may be a message that says it’s not available in the U.S. when you open the app.
TikTok would not be available on a web browser.
President-elect Trump has asked for a delay on the ban.
What are alternatives to TikTok?
While TikTok is not the only social media platform to use, it is the most popular app for an endless scroll of short-form videos. Other apps do have similar features, so users may want to download these if TikTok is banned:
Xiaohongshu, or “RedNote:” A Chinese app that combines e-commerce and short-form videos, much like TikTok
Lemon 8 (also owned by ByteDance): Pictures and short-form videos.
Instagram: photos, short-form videos (known as Reels)
YouTube: videos and short-form videos (known as Shorts)
Twitch: livestream videos
Clapper: “A TikTok clone”
Triller: music videos
This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM.