Time has run out for TikTok and parent company ByteDance. The United States Supreme Court has upheld a law banning the digital video app unless it is sold to a company without ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
On Friday morning, the high court ruled that a law that restricted companies from servicing social media platforms was constitutional.
“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,” Supreme Court justices shared in an unsigned statement announcing the decision. “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. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”
With that ruling, the app is set to be banned from being available for download in app stores on Sunday, January 19th unless it is sold by ByteDance.
A ban would greatly benefit competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, who also specialize in short-form, vertical video content.
In recent weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has shared his opinion that he would like to see the social media app remain available for American consumption. Detractors, however, have argued the app is a national security risk.
While a sale of TikTok is not imminent, potential suitors have come out of the woodwork to court ByteDance. A sale of the social media app would need to be approved by China, with experts alleging that would be an unlikely outcome.
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