The potential U.S. TikTok ban has been hovering over its users like a menacing storm for months. Earlier this morning, the Supreme Court ruled that banning the app was still on the table due to national security concerns, per CNN.
It's being reported that the president elect will ultimately decide whether or not to put the ban into full effect across the country. So does this mean that starting on Sunday, January 19, TikTok users in the U.S. will no longer be able to access the app?
There is still the potential for extending extra time for the app's owners to secure a buyer, according to CNN. But that's not a guarantee. It will be up to the sitting president to decide whether or not to give this more time or let the ban proceed in two days.
Is TikTok shutting down Sunday?
This is still up in the air regardless of the Supreme Court upholding the ban at this time. NBC News reported that TikTok could opt to shut down completely in the U.S. rather than simply become unavailable to download onto devices. This could happen as early as Sunday, but TikTok has not confirmed the outcome. The outlet also noted that TikTok shut down in India the same day the ban went into effect in 2020, so it could happen in the U.S. too.
But again, we still don't know for sure whether or not that's how things will go on January 19. With the ruling having just happened only hours ago at the time of this writing, there are still many unanswered questions about the future of the app.
Why is TikTok shutting down?
As Vlogger Beat previously reported, the reason for the ban is being framed as a security risk largely due to its Chinese ownership. The app collects user data when in use the same as many other apps on your phone or other devices. But because the U.S. government is treating this as a major risk, the app either has to be sold or banned.
The law that states this goes into effect on January 19 (Sunday), which is why many are assuming the ban will go into immediate effect in two days. There was a recent appeal claiming that a TikTok ban would be unconstitutional, which is what the Supreme Court responded to in its ruling earlier this morning.
Will Americans lose access to TikTok forever?
TikTok has gained millions of users since its launch, and many Americans have turned to the app to seek information, find and provide entertainment, and even generate an income and gain financial independence through the app's creator program. While this has led to plenty of misinformation and controversy, many have found that the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to sharing content, finding community, and keeping up with what's happening in the world.
Content creators residing in the U.S. can and will move forward no matter the outcome. It's unclear what will happen to the app without its American user base or where creators will turn to next. But it's highly unlikely that the ban will be overturned if it does go into effect, which means the only way to proceed looks to be by pivoting, strategizing, and continuing on -- something many smart creators have gotten quite good at over the years.
We will update this and other related articles with more information as it becomes available in the coming days.