As the deadline for a potential federal ban approached, TikTok’s operations in the United States were placed under serious threat, with its 170 million American users and the broader online culture expected to be significantly impacted. The ban, introduced under a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, required that TikTok sever its ties with ByteDance, its China-based parent company, by the deadline or face a shutdown of its U.S. operations due to concerns over national security. Efforts to seek assurances from companies like Apple and Google to prevent enforcement actions were made by TikTok, but the Supreme Court upheld the ban, and no intervention from the White House was announced.

Amid the uncertainty, alternative platforms such as China-based RedNote were being explored by users, while increased market activity was noted among TikTok’s rivals, including Meta and Snap. Marketing firms reliant on TikTok were prompted to create contingency plans to address possible disruptions. However, it was suggested by incoming President Donald Trump that a “political resolution” might be pursued, which could lead to a temporary suspension of the ban’s enforcement for up to 90 days.
Meanwhile, discussions about TikTok’s future were indicated by the planned attendance of its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, at the U.S. presidential inauguration. Interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, valued at up to $50 billion, was expressed by potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. ByteDance, as a privately held company with major institutional investors such as BlackRock and General Atlantic, was noted to employ over 7,000 individuals in the U.S., underscoring the broader economic implications of the ban.
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