TikTok Ban Looms After Supreme Court Denial

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected an appeal from TikTok, paving the way for a ban on the popular social media platform to take effect on Sunday, January 19. The justices expressed skepticism over TikTok's First Amendment challenge, stating in their ruling that the platform's extensive data collection and susceptibility to foreign control justified the government's national security concerns.

"TikTok’s scale and susceptibility to foreign adversary control, together with the vast swaths of sensitive data the platform collects, justify differential treatment to address the Government’s national security concerns," the Supreme Court noted. This decision comes despite the recognition that TikTok serves as a significant outlet for expression, engagement, and community for over 170 million Americans.

As the ban looms, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, reiterated President Biden's stance that TikTok should remain available in the U.S. but under American ownership. However, with the transition of power to President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on Monday, the responsibility to enforce or potentially delay the ban falls to his administration.

Trump, who has previously opposed a TikTok ban, has hinted at the possibility of delaying the enforcement through an executive order for 60 to 90 days. On Truth Social, Trump mentioned ongoing discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping concerning the ban, among other issues. Meanwhile, reports suggest that a full purchase of TikTok by a Western buyer remains an option, with Elon Musk, involved in the incoming Trump administration, being considered as a potential intermediary or buyer.

In response to the looming ban, TikTok users have begun migrating to the Chinese social media app Red Note (Xiaohongshu), which has seen a surge of over 700,000 new users in just two days, according to Reuters. The future of TikTok in the U.S. hinges on finding a new buyer or facing a complete cessation of operations, unless an executive order from the Trump administration intervenes.