Will TikTok be banned this weekend? What to know after Supreme Court's decision

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Update: The Supreme Court has upheld a law that could lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States.

TikTok may be prohibited in the United States.

Will be prohibited in the U.S., rendering it unlawful for U.S. online hosting services and application stores to disseminate the platform.

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Is a national security threat and may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government.

Its decision to affirm the legality of a law that could prohibit TikTok in the United States.

Here's what we know about the ban, in TikTok's potential final hours in the USA.

When can we expect the Supreme Court of the United States to issue its ruling?

On Friday morning at 10 a.m. EST, the high court made its ruling, confirming the validity of the law.

What will the Supreme Court decide?

Since the Supreme Court of the United States upheld existing legislation, ByteDance will have until Sunday to divest TikTok's US assets.

During last week's hearing, Chief Justice Samuel Alito inquired whether the court could put the law on hold temporarily or halt its implementation administratively.

US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration in defense of the ban, advised against a temporary block of the ban, unless it was highly likely that TikTok would prevail based on its argument that it has a First Amendment right to distribute its content. Regarding a hold on administrative actions, Prelogar stated that she would leave the decision to the justices as to whether they have sufficient time to review the case.

Is it true that TikTok plans to shut down their platform this Sunday?

If an absolute prohibition indeed comes into force on Sunday, as multiple reports indicate.

Starting on Sundays, if this ban actually takes place.

TikTok issued a statement on Friday night saying it needs more clarity from the Biden administration and the Justice Department that the ban won't begin on Sunday.

"Unless the Biden administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers, assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will have to go dark on January 19," said the statement sent to USA TODAY.

Earlier on Friday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew issued a response to the judgment via TikTok video, saying, "I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against unfair censorship."

How would the ban impact users?

If the ban on TikTok goes into effect on Sunday, it will become illegal for U.S. internet hosting services and app stores to distribute the app, making the platform unavailable to users.

TikTok users who have the app already installed on their mobile devices can still use it, but they will not be able to update it, which means it will probably become unusable over time. Additionally, TikTok will not be available through U.S.-based internet hosting services, making the website inaccessible in the United States.

Would there be a way to bypass the prohibition?

Virtual Private Network (VPN), which allows online users to hide their location. In theory, if a user used a VPN to set their location outside of the United States, the user could potentially access TikTok.

Connecting from outside the United States to major US internet hubs would typically lead to slower or less reliable connections.

First-time users are advised to thoroughly research VPN options prior to use, as there are unscrupulous companies that may try to take advantage of users in their initial search.

What are Donald Trump's views on the ban.

There are no quotes or numbers to paraphrase. If you provide the text, I will paraphrase it for you.

That would put the ban on hold for a period between 60 to 90 days, a report USA TODAY is working to verify. It's unclear, however, if Trump could actually issue such an order and how it would be carried out.

Who is interested in purchasing TikTok?

Last week, it officially proposed to ByteDance the purchase of TikTok's U.S. assets. Project Liberty President Tomicah Tillemann said in a statement it would not reveal the bid price publicly.

on the purchase plan.

If Project Liberty were to purchase TikTok, it would only acquire the company's assets in the U.S., and not the algorithm, since China considers it to be its intellectual property.

Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, and Microsoft as an entity.

What other platforms are people currently moving to?

lying in second place is somewhat ironic, as the app itself could potentially be subject to a ban under the new legislation.

Other platforms users are exploring include Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, Clapper, Triller, Fanbase, and Neptune, as well as Twitch.

This story has been updated with new information.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe

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Will TikTok face a ban this weekend? What to know after the Supreme Court's ruling