TikTok Ban: Can You Still Use the App? How Will It Impact Users? Who Might Buy the Chinese App? Here’s What We Know So Far

Is the TikTok social media app facing a ban in the United States? If so, when and where did this occur, and what is the reason behind it? How will this affect users? Will TikTokers still be able to download the app after the ban? What alternatives are available for both users and TikTok owners if the app is declared illegal?

These are some of the key questions being raised as a potential ban on the popular short-video app TikTok seems imminent in the United States.

Here’s everything you need to know about the controversy and what could happen next:

Is the TikTok social media app being banned?

Not yet. However, there is a possibility that TikTok could be banned across the United States starting January 19, just before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

But there's a catch: TikTok sale or ban?

Last year, the US government enacted a law requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either sell the highly popular platform or shut it down. This law is set to take effect on Sunday.

Reports suggest that the Supreme Court is likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the US starting January 19, unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the popular social media app.

As a result, ByteDance Ltd’s TikTok has a deadline of January 19 to secure a US buyer if it wishes to continue operating in the country.

Why does the US want to ban TikTok?

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a China-based company. Due to its ownership by a Chinese firm, the Supreme Court has raised concerns about the app's potential national security risks and warned that it could be banned.

Chief Justice John Roberts expressed his primary concern about TikTok’s connection to ByteDance, emphasizing the company’s obligation to cooperate with the Chinese government’s intelligence operations, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The US government has accused TikTok of enabling China to collect data and spy on users, as well as serving as a platform to spread propaganda. Justice Brett Kavanaugh voiced concerns about China gaining access to information on tens of millions of Americans, particularly teenagers and people in their 20s, a demographic where TikTok has gained immense popularity.

It is important to note that the Chinese government holds a "golden share" in ByteDance, which several members of Congress argue gives the government influence over TikTok.

According to the AP, TikTok has been under scrutiny since 2020, during Trump's first term, with the possibility of a forced sale if it fails to address the US government’s national security concerns.

How have TikTok's owners responded?

TikTok has previously stated that the Chinese government's stake "does not impact ByteDance's global operations outside of China, including TikTok."

TikTok, its Chinese parent company ByteDance, and app users challenged a lower court's decision that upheld the law, arguing that it infringes on the US Constitution's First Amendment, which protects against government restrictions on free speech.

TikTok, which filed a lawsuit against the government last year over the law, has consistently denied that it could be used as a tool for China.

Unless there is a policy reversal by President-elect Donald Trump or ByteDance sells its US operations, TikTok will be in violation of the law within a week, triggering the search for a US buyer.

Can TikTok really be banned?

Yes. The law, passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in April, mandates that TikTok must "go dark" on January 19, according to lawyer Noel Francisco, who represents content creators and TikTok users.

Will TikTok be sold to a US entity?

Several investors have shown interest in TikTok. Among those expressing interest are former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt.

Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and SpaceX, has also been mentioned as a potential buyer. Bloomberg News reported on Monday that Chinese officials are in early discussions about the possibility of selling TikTok's US operations to Musk, should the app be unable to avoid a ban.

As of now, Elon Musk, X, and China's Cyberspace and Ministry of Commerce have not commented on these claims.

What did ByteDance say about the TikTok sale?

ByteDance has stated that it will not sell the short-form video platform, and lawyer Francisco argued that a sale may never be feasible given the conditions outlined in the law. The company’s lawyer also emphasized that completing a sale by next week’s deadline would be impossible.

What happens if TikTok isn’t sold?

If TikTok isn’t sold to an approved US buyer, federal law would prohibit app stores like Apple’s and Google’s from offering the app. Additionally, internet hosting services would be barred from hosting TikTok.

Can the TikTok ban deadline be extended?

Reuters reported that US President Joe Biden could extend the deadline by 90 days if it can be confirmed that ByteDance is making significant progress toward divesting TikTok, though it is unlikely that ByteDance will meet that requirement.

Senator Edward Markey announced plans to introduce legislation to delay the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban by an additional 270 days.

What happens if TikTok is banned?

Noel Francisco, the company’s lawyer, stated that if TikTok is banned, the app used by 170 million Americans would quickly “go dark” and essentially shut down.

Will TikTok users still have access to the app?

Yes. Existing TikTok users who already have the app on their devices will still be able to access it. However, new users won’t be able to download the app, and current users won’t be able to receive updates, which would eventually render the app unusable, according to the Justice Department's court filings.

How would the TikTok ban impact users?

Senator Edward Markey expressed concerns that “a TikTok ban would have serious consequences for millions of Americans who rely on the app for social connections and their economic livelihood. We cannot allow that to happen.”