Social media giant TikTok has announced plans to completely cease operations in the United States this Sunday if a government-mandated ban goes into effect as scheduled.
The app, which boasts over 170 million American users, will implement a full blackout rather than allowing existing users to continue accessing the platform, sources told The Information.
The shutdown is tied to a January 19 deadline requiring TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or halt its US operations.
Although the legislation only mandates app stores to remove TikTok and cloud providers to stop hosting US user data, the company reportedly plans to suspend all services in the country.
After the deadline, users attempting to open the app will reportedly be met with a notification explaining the federally mandated ban and instructions for downloading their personal data, according to The Information.
The decision follows oral arguments before the Supreme Court last Friday, during which justices appeared skeptical of TikTok’s legal challenge. The company has contested the ban, citing First Amendment protections for freedom of speech.
The anticipated shutdown coincides with a political transition, as former President Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of the ban, prepares to re-enter office on Monday.
ByteDance has so far refused to sell TikTok’s US operations, but industry analysts speculate that the company may reconsider as the deadline nears and a forced exit looms.
In an internal email obtained by The Verge, TikTok assured its US employees that their “employment, pay, and benefits remain secure,” even if the app shuts down. The company emphasized that its offices will stay open and that it is “planning for various scenarios.”
As the deadline approaches, the fate of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance, with millions of users and employees awaiting further developments.
