The TikTok hashtag #SwifTok, which consists of over 350,000 videos created by enthusiastic fans of Taylor Swift, is now nearing the end of its presence in the United States.

On Friday morning, the Supreme Court backed a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, Byte Dance, to sell the app by January 19 or face a complete ban in the U.S.

This legislation, signed into law by President Joe Biden last year, was primarily justified on national security concerns. Unless something changes suddenly, both Apple and Google will have to stop offering the TikTok app for download as of Sunday. Current users can keep using it, but eventually, the app will be unavailable within the U.S., though it will still function in other countries.

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Importance of TikTok for Swifties

Thanks to TikTok’s livestream feature, every concert from the Eras Tour was available to fans who couldn’t attend in person. Fans at the concerts would stream the lengthy performances, allowing tens of thousands—even millions—of viewers to join in the experience online.

Influencer Nikki King, known for her insightful theories about Taylor Swift, believes the essence of the #SwifTok experience cannot be replicated elsewhere. “The #SwifTok platform is where Taylor Swift supporters can dive deeper into her artistry and connect with each other,” she explains.

King, who has 128,000 followers, works as a high school social studies teacher in North Carolina. TikTok has helped her forge global friendships, travel to concerts around the world, and even eliminate debt.

“I joined the [TikTok] Creator Fund to earn enough from something I love to help with my car payments, and I’ve been doing well for two years,” she shares. “Many of my friends are now considering this a long-term career choice.”

Another friend, Jake Deyton, a full-time influencer with 235,000 followers dedicated to Swift news, echoes similar sentiments.

“There’s a real sense of community here,” Deyton says. “Before TikTok, I felt alone in my obsession with Taylor Swift. Connecting with others who share my passion has been really special.”

Thanks to TikTok, he can balance his role as a father to his young son. Deyton is now contemplating transitioning to YouTube Shorts if TikTok is no longer an option. However, he worries about not having the same audience he built on TikTok.

“It would be disappointing,” he admits. “You invest so much time and effort into growing your platform, and starting from square one is tough. I remember celebrating milestones like reaching 100,000 followers and getting a million views for the first time.”

Taylor Swift’s Journey with TikTok

Swift, who boasts 32 million followers on TikTok, collaborated with the platform over the summer.

In June, her team introduced an interactive project where fans could complete tasks to earn 11 themed profile frames. Some participants who collected all frames received personal messages from Swift’s team with tickets to her final American concerts.

Earlier this year in February, Swift’s record label, Universal Music Group, removed its artists’ music from TikTok, but shortly after, she negotiated her own agreement to have her music reinstated just before her album “Tortured Poets” was launched.

Voicing Concerns before the Supreme Court

Chloe Joy Sexton, 30, traveled to Washington to listen to the Supreme Court hearings on January 10. She is one of eight content creators involved in the lawsuit, and her written testimony was shared with the justices.

“To say TikTok has altered my life is an understatement,” Joy Sexton expressed in her statement at a TikTok press conference after the arguments. “If it’s banned, it would ruin my business and destroy the community that means so much to me. No other platform can offer what TikTok does. I’ve tried sharing similar content on other social media but had no success.”

The Memphis mother of two, who also looks after her 11-year-old sister, started her cookie business, Chloe’s Giant Cookies, in 2020 after losing her job. Following her mother’s death from brain cancer, she used TikTok as a creative escape, a way to build community, and a source of income, amassing over 140,000 followers with her candid content.

Joy Sexton highlighted the impact of TikTok on her sister Charlotte’s life, explaining how she was able to surprise her with tickets to the Eras Tour in New Orleans through a touching video. The tickets were hidden inside five nested boxes inspired by Swift’s themes.

“Charlotte was only able to attend the Eras Tour because someone reached out to me on TikTok, relating to our story, and offered tickets,” Joy Sexton recounts.

Her testimony led to a flood of supportive messages and comments from others touched by her story. “I can’t even keep up with my direct messages right now,” she admits.

Ticking Clock

With the January 19 deadline rapidly approaching, questions arise about the future.

Some lawmakers are suggesting ways to postpone the ban. During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to “save” TikTok once in office.

There’s also the potential for a buyer to come in and acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. Billionaire Frank McCourt has put in a formal offer, joined by Kevin O’Leary, one of the investors from the ABC show “Shark Tank.”

The ban could also be avoided if TikTok cuts its ties with Bytedance in the U.S. or if Congress repeals the current legislation.

Contributors: Greta Cross, Rebecca Morin, and Mike Snider

Follow Bryan West, News Network’s Taylor Swift correspondent, on Instagram, TikTok, and X as @BryanWestTV.