TikTok to shut down in the US as ban deadline looms
Social media giant TikTok has announced plans to completely shut down its operations in the United States this Sunday if a legislator-mandated ban takes effect.
The move comes as the platform faces a January 19 deadline to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or halt US operations.
TikTok, which boasts over 170 million American users, will implement an immediate blackout rather than allow users to continue accessing the app.
According to reports from The Information, users attempting to open TikTok after the deadline will be greeted with a message explaining the federally mandated shutdown and providing instructions on how to download their personal data.
READ ALSO: Trump asks US Supreme Court to pause TikTok ban law
While the law only requires app stores to delist TikTok and cloud providers to stop hosting US user data, TikTok’s decision to suspend its entire service reflects the gravity of the situation.
The shutdown is linked to mounting concerns over data security and the platform’s ties to ByteDance.
The company has challenged the legislation on First Amendment grounds, arguing that the ban infringes on freedom of speech.
However, skepticism from Supreme Court justices during recent hearings suggests the ban may be upheld.
The timing of the potential shutdown coincides with the transition of power in the US presidency, as Donald Trump—who opposes the ban—is set to assume office on Monday.
Despite the looming ban, ByteDance has so far refused to sell TikTok’s US operations, though analysts suggest that a forced exit could change the company’s stance.
In an internal email obtained by The Verge, TikTok assured its US employees that their “employment, pay, and benefits are secure,” and confirmed that offices would remain open even if the app is shut down.
The company also stated it is “planning for various scenarios” as the deadline approaches.
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