Update: Supreme Court maintains law that could lead to a TikTok ban in the U.S. Read more.

As the weekend approaches, there’s just two days left until TikTok might be prohibited in the United States.

ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, has until Sunday to sell the platform due to federal legislation enacted by President Joe Biden last spring. If ByteDance, based in Beijing, does not comply, TikTok will be banned, rendering it illegal for U.S. internet hosting services and app stores to provide the application.

This legislation has been anticipated for several years, as certain government officials express concerns that TikTok could be a national security threat and may be relaying U.S. user information to the Chinese government.

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from TikTok, which contends that the ban violates Americans’ First Amendment rights. After more than a week of deliberation, the high court made the decision to uphold the law that could result in TikTok’s ban in the U.S.

Here’s what we know about the potential ban as TikTok nears what could be its final hours in the country.

When Will the Supreme Court Release Its Decision?

Although the Supreme Court justices weren’t scheduled to convene, the court indicated on its website that a ruling might be released electronically on Friday at 10 a.m. EST. Shortly after that time, the court announced its ruling, confirming the law remains in effect.

What Will the Supreme Court’s Decision Mean?

By upholding the law, ByteDance is required to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by Sunday.

During the hearing, Justice Samuel Alito inquired if the court could put the law on hold temporarily.

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, defending the ban for the Biden administration, urged against a temporary hold unless TikTok was likely to prevail on its First Amendment argument regarding its ability to distribute its content. Regarding administrative delays, Prelogar suggested deferring to the justices to see if they have sufficient time to make a decision.

Is TikTok Planning to Shut Down this Sunday?

After the Supreme Court hearing last week, it seems TikTok is gearing up to deactivate the platform on Sunday if the ban takes effect, according to various sources.

In a statement provided on Friday evening, TikTok mentioned that it needs clearer information from the Biden administration and the Justice Department assuring that the ban won’t be enforced starting Sunday.

“Unless the Biden Administration promptly provides a clear statement reassuring critical service providers of non-enforcement, TikTok will regrettably have to cease operations on January 19,” read the message provided to YSL News.

Earlier that day, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew shared a response to the court ruling via a TikTok video, expressing gratitude to President Trump for his previous efforts to find a solution that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of the First Amendment and opposing arbitrary censorship.

What Impact Would the Ban Have on Users?

If the ban indeed comes into effect on Sunday, it would become illegal for U.S. internet hosting services and app stores to offer TikTok.

Users who have the app already downloaded will still be able to access it, but they won’t be able to make updates, which will likely render the app unusable over time. Additionally, TikTok would no longer be accessible through U.S.-based internet services, making the website unreachable.

Could Users Circumvent the Ban?

It’s unclear how the ban will be enforced, but experts suggest that content creators are informing users about virtual private networks (VPNs), which can mask users’ locations. In theory, if users employ a VPN to connect from a location outside the U.S., they might still access TikTok.

However, there are limitations, as Dan York, a senior adviser to the Internet Society, mentioned that popular VPNs could also be blocked, and trying to connect from other countries might yield slower or unreliable service.

York cautioned users to thoroughly research VPNs, as there are predatory companies out there looking to exploit first-time users.

What is Donald Trump’s Stance on the Ban?

President-elect Donald Trump will officially take office on Monday, the day after a possible ban could go into effect. Although he previously endorsed a ban, he recently asked the Supreme Court to delay the deadline, so his incoming administration could “pursue a political resolution regarding the matters in question.”

The Washington Post reported that Trump is contemplating an executive order to postpone the ban for 60 to 90 days, a story YSL News is currently trying to verify. However, it remains uncertain whether he can issue such an order or how it would be executed.

Who is Interested in Acquiring TikTok?

Notably, Project Liberty, led by billionaire Frank McCourt, announced last week that it has formally offered to purchase TikTok’s U.S. assets from ByteDance. Project Liberty’s President Tomicah Tillemann stated that they would not reveal the bid amount publicly.

McCourt, who previously owned the Los Angeles Dodgers, mentioned last month that Project Liberty secured verbal agreements for up to $20 billion for the acquisition. Kevin O’Leary, known as the “Shark Tank” host, also revealed he is joining the Project Liberty initiative for this deal.

If Project Liberty acquires TikTok, it would only include U.S. assets and not the algorithm as that is considered China’s intellectual property.

Other parties expressing interest in TikTok include Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX; YouTuber James “MrBeast” Donaldson; former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick; Walmart CEO Doug McMillon; and Microsoft as a whole.

Which Other Platforms Are Users Turning To?

In anticipation of a potential ban, several social media apps are competing for popularity on both the Apple App and Google Play stores, with the top position currently held by the Chinese app RedNote, as of Thursday. TikTok’s own Lemon8 is in a close second, which is particularly interesting, given that the app could also face a ban under the same legislation.

Other platforms that users are considering include Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, Clapper, Triller, Fanbase, Neptune, and Twitch.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Contributing: Maureen Groppe

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross.