Supreme Court Ruling on TikTok in the US
TikTok will face a ban across the US starting this Sunday (January 19) if it doesn't sell, as ruled by the Supreme Court.
The platform’s future became uncertain when its parent company, ByteDance, lost an appeal against a US law designed to prohibit its operation. ByteDance has consistently stated that it does not wish to sell, even though doing so would allow the app to continue availability in the country.
White House Statement and Future of TikTok
In response to the latest Supreme Court ruling, the White House issued a statement declaring that the social media platform would remain accessible to residents in the United States. “TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or any ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in crafting this legislation,” the statement asserts (via Sky News).
The justices reached this conclusion after weighing appeals from users and creators. Although they decided that the group would continue operating, President Joe Biden indicated that he would not enforce the ban while in office. He chose to defer the decision to President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated this weekend.
Trump had previously attempted to postpone the ban, seeking to make the decision during his term; however, the Supreme Court opted to adhere to the original proposal.
Potential Outcomes and Reactions
Retail sources such as Sky News pointed out various scenarios the new president might encounter regarding TikTok’s future in the US. One possibility is that TikTok may decide to sever connections with US users, preventing access to the app for those in the States.
Another scenario could see the application remaining available to US residents while tech giants like Apple and Google slowly remove it from their app stores. This lengthy process would mean no new users could join, and updates would cease, leading to a decline in user engagement as the app’s performance falters.
Furthermore, Trump could potentially find a way to halt the ban from being enforced. While he cannot overturn the directive, he may influence app stores to avoid penalties for keeping the app available.
Despite ByteDance confirming their lack of intent to sell, high-profile individuals have expressed interest in acquiring the platform. Elon Musk, notable for purchasing Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, was rumored to be interested, with potential acquisition estimates ranging from $40 to $50 billion. However, TikTok quickly dismissed these speculations, stating, “We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
Additionally, YouTube sensation MrBeast announced his willingness to acquire the platform to avert a ban, later suggesting collaboration with other billionaires on this proposal. Rapper Meek Mill also joined the discussion, tweeting about his interest in purchasing TikTok, though his followers largely viewed it as a jest.
The effort to sell or ban TikTok was instituted by outgoing President Biden last year amid concerns that the company’s ownership could allow the Chinese government access to the data of millions of American users. India had already banned the app in 2020, with Taiwan and Afghanistan following suit in 2022.
Over 30 US states, along with Canada and the European Union, have independently prohibited the app’s use on government devices due to security apprehensions.
A ban on TikTok in the US could significantly affect the music industry, as a recent report suggested that a majority of singles topping the US and UK charts in 2024 originated from TikTok trends.
While the ban has yet to take effect, TikTok users are already migrating to alternative apps, with a new Chinese platform, RedNote, reportedly gaining over 700,000 new users within just two days. Reuters.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/tiktok-will-be-banned-in-the-us-this-weekend-supreme-court-rules-3829983?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tiktok-will-be-banned-in-the-us-this-weekend-supreme-court-rules
