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What Will Upcoming TikTok Ban Mean For American Users?

Art by Visuals via Unsplash

What Will Upcoming TikTok Ban Mean For American Users?

By Movieguide® Contributor

TikTok is getting ready to go dark on Jan. 19 for U.S. users, unless the Supreme Court steps in. 

This ban has been in the works for months now after the U.S. demanded TikTok divest from parent company, ByteDance, or be banned. 

READ MORE: WILL SUPREME COURT UPHOLD LOOMING TIKTOK BAN? WHAT WE KNOW

With mere days to spare, TikTok is preparing to shut down. An injunction from the Supreme Court might be able to stop it, per Variety, but otherwise, it’s an “immediate” shutdown on the 19th. 

There are some rumors about what the shutdown might mean. TikTok lawyer Noel Francisco told the Supreme Court that, if the ban goes into effect, “We go dark. Essentially, the platform shuts down.”

However, an anonymous source told NBC that “going dark” is a “last resort,” adding that there is “potential for content to remain viewable in TikTok for users who have the application, though it would no longer receive updates.”

Additionally, TikTok would be “unavailable” for new downloads in the U.S. and would eventually stop working, as it wouldn’t receive bug fixes and updates. 

Some have also wondered if President-elect Donald Trump will reverse the ban once he takes office. 

His incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News, “TikTok itself is a fantastic platform. We’re going to find a way to preserve it, but protect people’s data.”

READ MORE: CREATORS SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS AS TIKTOK BAN LOOMS

“Your employment, pay and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline,” TikTok global head of HR Nicky Raghavan said in a message sent to employees. “The bill is not written in a way that impacts the entities through which you are employed, only the U.S. user experience.”


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