TikTok is facing a ban this Sunday. Here’s what it means for you.

The Countdown to TikTok’s Potential Ban: What It Means for You

New York Time is running out for TikTok in the United States.

A law requiring TikTok to secure a new, non-Chinese owner or face a ban is set to take effect this Sunday. As of now, there’s little indication that the company will manage to finalize a sale in time.

If the ban proceeds, approximately 170 million Americans could lose access to a platform they rely on for entertainment, news, community, or even business operations. TikTok has become a major competitor to U.S. social media giants like Instagram and YouTube, making its potential shutdown highly impactful.

The situation escalated on Friday when the Supreme Court upheld the law, bringing the ban closer to reality. TikTok warned that without immediate intervention from the Biden administration, the platform would be forced to shut down on Sunday.

With less than two days until the deadline, uncertainties remain:

• Will the Biden administration step in? So far, this seems unlikely.
• Will President-elect Trump take action? Speculation suggests he might try, given his involvement in this issue.

Will TikTok Disappear?

On Friday night, TikTok increased the urgency by announcing that it would “go dark” on Sunday unless it receives “clarity and assurance” from the U.S. government.

“The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans,” the company said in a statement posted online.

“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately, TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.”

If the ban is enforced, experts predict that TikTok will be removed from Apple’s and Google’s app stores on Sunday. This would prevent new downloads of the app, though existing users could still access it temporarily. However, without updates or security patches, the app could eventually become unstable or stop functioning entirely.

A Biden administration official told CNN on Thursday that the outgoing president plans to leave enforcement of the TikTok ban to the incoming Trump administration. “Our position on this has been clear: TikTok should continue to operate under American ownership. Given the timing, with the ban set to take effect over a holiday weekend and just a day before the inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement,” the official explained.

This creates a potential gap in enforcement. Since Trump assumes office the day after the ban takes effect, no immediate directive may be issued to app stores on Sunday, leaving them to decide independently whether to comply with the ban.

For users, this means it’s wise to prepare for the possibility of losing access to TikTok starting Sunday unless they choose to use a VPN to circumvent the ban.

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Why TikTok Was Banned

The driving concern behind TikTok’s ban is national security. U.S. officials have expressed fears that the Chinese government could compel TikTok or its parent company, ByteDance, to share U.S. user data. This information could potentially be used for Chinese intelligence operations or to spread disinformation.

Although no concrete evidence has surfaced to prove these risks, China’s national security laws leave open the possibility, feeding broader concerns tied to trade, human rights, and authoritarianism.

These worries intensified after a 2022 report suggested that China-based employees had repeatedly accessed U.S. user data. TikTok has disputed the claims, asserting it has made significant changes to safeguard U.S. data, such as storing it on Oracle-owned servers within the United States.

In April 2023, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok to either be sold to a non-Chinese owner or face a U.S. ban.

Who Supported the TikTok Ban?

The ban received strong bipartisan support. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure with a vote of 360-58, attaching it to legislation funding military aid for Ukraine and missile defense for Israel to ensure it advanced. The Senate fast-tracked the bill, passing it within a week.

In February 2023, the Biden administration also ordered all executive branch employees to delete TikTok from their devices within 30 days.

What Will Trump Do?

Ironically, while the idea of banning TikTok originated during Trump’s first presidency, he has since changed his stance and now advocates for saving the app. His plans for handling the ban remain uncertain as the deadline looms.

The timing of the ban complicates matters, as it is set to take effect just one day before Trump assumes office.

Trump had previously asked the Supreme Court to temporarily delay the ban, hoping to use his presidency to negotiate a sale of TikTok. Sources familiar with Trump’s plans told CNN that he is considering postponing the ban to ensure Americans maintain access to the platform while he works out a deal.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to be seated alongside other prominent tech CEOs during Trump’s inauguration—a gesture that could signal the incoming president’s commitment to saving the app.

There is also growing support in Congress for granting TikTok additional time to secure a buyer. The law permits the president to extend the ban by 90 days if significant progress is made toward a sale, such as binding legal agreements. However, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has not publicly altered its stance that the app is not for sale.

Is a Sale Still Possible?

Even if the ban takes effect, selling TikTok to a non-Chinese owner could allow U.S. users to regain access to the app.

Earlier this month, a group led by billionaire entrepreneur and former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, along with “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, submitted a formal bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. assets. Their proposal excludes TikTok’s algorithm—something China has refused to sell—and aims to rebuild the platform with a more transparent feed and greater user control over data.

Reports have also suggested that Chinese officials are open to selling TikTok to X owner Elon Musk, whom they might view as a favorable American buyer. However, neither Musk nor ByteDance has commented on these claims, and TikTok has dismissed the reports as “pure fiction.”

Here’s the issue: Even if TikTok is sold and remains available for American users, it will still be a very different app. This is because China is likely to block the sale of the algorithm alongside TikTok’s U.S. assets, meaning the app’s “For You” feed will need to be rebuilt by the new owner—a challenge that won’t be easy. Many tech giants have spent years trying, and failing, to replicate TikTok’s algorithm.

What is TikTok’s valuation?

Creating a version of TikTok solely for the U.S. might also require users worldwide to download a separate app to access content from American users.

Ultimately, until Sunday—likely extending into next week—there will likely be more questions than answers about the app’s future.

Regarding TikTok’s value, its U.S. assets, excluding the algorithm, are estimated to be worth between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

However, since the algorithm is believed to be a significant part of TikTok’s value, it’s difficult to put a precise dollar figure on the company.

McCourt’s group hasn’t disclosed how much it offered, though the billionaire has previously stated he valued the assets at around $20 billion.

“We will refrain from publicly sharing the financial specifics of our offer until ByteDance is in a position to review our proposal,” the group said in a statement.

CNN’s Brian Fung and Jack Forrest contributed to this report.