Following the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to affirm a ban on TikTok, the popular video-sharing app might face a shutdown as soon as Sunday.

The app’s future remains uncertain after the court dismissed parent company ByteDance’s claim that prohibiting the app violates users’ freedom of speech. Interestingly, the Democratic administration, during its final days, has stated it will not implement the ban that President Joe Biden enacted.

Donald Trump, who initially proposed the ban in 2020 citing national security concerns, has now expressed belief that TikTok can remain operational in the U.S. Under the current ban, ByteDance must either sell TikTok or find another entity to manage its U.S. operations.

On Friday, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he will make a decision about TikTok soon but needs time to consider the situation. “Stay tuned!” he added.

In a TikTok video posted on Friday, CEO Shou Zi Chew reassured users by stating, “We will do everything we can to keep our platform as a vibrant space for creativity and inspiration for many years ahead. Thank you for your support. More updates will come.”

What is the timeline for TikTok’s shutdown?

The ban is set to go into effect on January 19, with the expectation that the app might stop functioning after 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday.

However, details remain vague, and the TikTok team has been tight-lipped. Cybersecurity expert Theresa Payton remarked, “Despite the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the ban, we are entering a period of uncertainty about how and when it will be enforced.”

“No one will know for sure until the clock strikes midnight on the 19th how the situation will transpire,” said Payton, who is the CEO and founder of the cybersecurity firm Fortalice Solutions.

What are the reasons behind the U.S. government’s intention to ban TikTok?

During his first presidency, Trump sought a ban on TikTok, arguing that the China-based app posed a national security threat by collecting data from U.S. citizens that could potentially be shared with the Chinese government.

TikTok has asserted that it has never been mandated to hand over U.S. user data to the Chinese authorities and would refuse if it were.

In 2020, Trump declared a national emergency due to TikTok, alleging that the app enabled the Chinese government to access “Americans’ personal and proprietary information – allowing China to track the locations of government workers and create dossiers for blackmail or espionage.”

His attempts to ban the app during his presidency faced legal challenges and were blocked by various judges.

In 2021, Biden issued a revised executive order, stating that ByteDance continued to be a threat to the U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economy, and tasked the Commerce Department with analyzing the risks associated with TikTok and similar platforms.

In December 2022, Biden enacted legislation that prohibited TikTok on government devices, which led to further efforts to ban the app in the U.S. if certain conditions were not met.

In April 2024, Congress voted on a ban, raising alarms among lawmakers regarding potential Chinese surveillance of Americans and the spread of misinformation through TikTok. Following an intelligence briefing from the Biden administration, senators from both parties concluded that TikTok represents a significant national security risk.

The Senate ultimately passed the bill with strong bipartisan support, voting 79-18, following a 360-58 approval from the House. Subsequently, Biden signed this legislation into law.

While many TikTok users may question the urgency for such measures, “they are unaware of the classified information Congress has been privy to,” stated Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, before the April 2024 vote.

“They haven’t attended closed briefings that have explored the potential dangers posed by foreign control of TikTok,” Warner said.

Is a TikTok ban likely? Not necessarily, and here’s why

In an unexpected turn, Trump might issue an executive order stating that TikTok serves national security interests, as it could be seen as a better alternative compared to other Chinese-owned platforms like RedNote, which fall under Communist Party oversight, according to Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University.

Analyst Daniel Ives from Wedbush Securities speculated on Friday that the Trump administration may postpone the ban or advise the Justice Department not to enforce it, allowing Apple and Google to keep TikTok available in their app stores.

This would also permit internet service providers and hosting companies to maintain TikTok’s assets and data on their systems, he noted. “We believe that behind the scenes, the Trump Administration is actively working to create a framework and deal for TikTok’s future,” Ives added.

Furthermore, Elon Musk could play a significant role in keeping TikTok operational in the U.S. by potentially acquiring its U.S. operations or assisting with the transaction, Ives informed YSL News. “Musk is in a unique position with the Trump administration and is the only candidate who might obtain approval from Beijing for such a purchase,” Ives said.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

Contributions from Riley Beggin, Greta Cross, Maureen Groppe, Jessica Guynn, Bailey Schulz, and Mary Walrath-Holdridge of YSL News; Reuters.

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