The Supreme Court has spoken.
On Friday, they unanimously upheld a federal law banning TikTok. A move that clears the way for the ban to kick in on Jan. 19.
But here’s the twist: Both the outgoing and incoming presidents have hinted that the ban might not actually be enforced.
Confused? Let’s break it down.
The TikTok Ban: A Quick Recap
This all started last April.
President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package into law. Tucked inside was a controversial provision: TikTok would either have to be sold to a U.S.-approved buyer or face a nationwide ban.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, wasn’t having it.
They hit back with a lawsuit, arguing that the law was unfair, painted TikTok as a national security threat without real evidence, and even violated free speech rights.
For context, TikTok isn’t just another app. It’s a cultural phenomenon with 170 million U.S. users glued to its short-form videos.
The legal battle escalated, eventually landing in the Supreme Court’s lap.
Where Do Things Stand Now?
Fast forward to today. The Supreme Court has cleared the ban’s path.
But two critical things need to happen before TikTok disappears from app stores:
- The Supreme Court had to reject TikTok’s free speech argument. (Done. They did this on Friday.)
- TikTok has until Jan. 19 to split from ByteDance and find a U.S.-approved buyer.
So far, there’s no sign of a sale.
If nothing changes, here’s what will happen:
- TikTok will vanish from app stores on Jan. 19.
- Current users can keep the app, but there will be no updates or bug fixes. Over time, the app could stop working altogether.
Sounds final, right? Not quite.
Biden, Trump, and TikTok’s Future
Here’s where politics enter the picture.
President Biden, whose last full day in office is Jan. 19, has made it clear: He won’t enforce the ban. He’s passing the ball to President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20.
Trump has publicly vowed to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
How? That’s unclear. His transition team hasn’t shared details. But we do know one thing: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a VIP seat.
So, What Does ‘Uphold the Law’ Mean?
Legally, the TikTok ban could go into effect in just a few days. But enforcement? That’s another story.
Biden’s hands-off approach leaves Trump with the final say. Will he strike a deal with ByteDance? Rewrite the rules? Or let the ban quietly fade away?
For now, we’re all left waiting, watching, and scrolling through TikTok while we still can.
