In Just Days, TikTok to Disappear from New Jersey Forever?

🔴   Time is running out for popular social platform

🔴   TikTok claims more than 100 million users

🔴   Platform faces January 19 deadline to sell or close

In April 2024, President Biden signed a law aimed at banning TikTok in the U.S.

The bill called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was passed with strong bipartisan support.

The main concern driving the law is that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company.

This raised fears that the app collects user data without their knowledge and that Chinese law could force ByteDance to share this data with the Chinese government.

Critics worry that the Chinese government could use the data for espionage, cyberattacks, or to spread false information to influence American public opinion.

Some argue that other social media platforms have similar risks, but the difference with TikTok is that it’s controlled by a foreign adversary.

Many dismissed the idea that TikTok could actually be banned, but experts warn the threat is serious.

Last May, ByteDance filed a lawsuit claiming the law was unconstitutional.

However, a panel of judges rejected the lawsuit and ruled that ByteDance must sell TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face a ban.

Recently, a federal court upheld this ruling, bringing the potential ban closer to reality.

Last week, President-elect Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban, suggesting that the new administration should have time to negotiate a solution.

If the ban happens, TikTok would be removed from app stores like Apple’s and Google’s.

It has already been banned on devices used by federal and many state governments.

Additionally, internet providers could be forced to block users from accessing TikTok.

ByteDance has said they plan to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, continuing their fight against the potential ban.

Of course, this could become a moot point if another company comes along and purchases the platform from ByteDance.

As of now, the outcome is uncertain, but the possibility of TikTok being banned in the U.S. is becoming more likely.