TikTok is just days away from being banned in the US unless the Supreme Court finds that it violates Americans’ First Amendment rights. So what is happening, will the ban actually stand, and what does this mean for Australian users?
Back in April, President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban the popular video-sharing app from January 19, 2025 — unless it divests from the Chinese-owned internet company ByteDance. But with just days left before the deadline, a divestment is looking unlikely, so here’s what you need to know.
Is TikTok getting banned in the US?
Perhaps.
When Biden first signed the bill back in April, ByteDance had months to sell the app to a company that is not controlled by a “foreign adversary”. But instead of selling, TikTok sued and will now present their case in front of the US Supreme Court — which will ultimately decide whether the app gets banned or lives to see another day.
When the ban was first announced, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew called the ban “ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard, and that’s why so many people have made TikTok a part of their daily lives.”
When will the Supreme Court arguments begin and how can I watch?
TikTok will take the case to the US Supreme Court on Friday January 10 local time (2am January 11 for those watching along from Australia).
The hearing will be limited, which means TikTok will only be able to provide arguments based on the scope of one question: Does the ban violate the First Amendment?
You can watch the live stream of the court hearing below.
What happens if the TikTok ban is upheld?
Despite multiple potential buyers expressing interest including former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and former LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, TikTok has said it will cease operations in the US if the Supreme Court chooses to uphold the ban.
What happens to TikTok after January 19?
If the ban is upheld, new users will not be able to download TikTok from app stores in the US, and existing users won’t be able to update the app.
Both Apple and Google — which operate the two major app stores — have been told they must be ready to remove TikTok from their stores from January 19.
For the 170 million US users, they will still be able to use the app for the foreseeable future, but will not receive any updates to the software. This means that over time, the app will become unusable.
What does this mean for CapCut?
If ByteDance is banned in the US, it may not just be TikTok that gets cut — popular video editing app CapCut (which is also owned by the Chinese internet company) could also be axed.
According to the Washington Post, the bill that would see TikTok banned would also mean the same for CapCut.
If CapCut gets banned, this could vastly change the short-form video industry across all platforms and force creators onto more complex, and often more expensive editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
What does this mean for Australia?
When the ban was first discussed early last year, the Coalition called for Australia to follow suit and ban TikTok — citing Chinese interference concerns — but the government has not taken any serious stance on it.
What we know for sure is that Australians won’t wake up on January 19 with a sudden TikTok ban like our friends in the US.
However, if a TikTok ban actually holds up in the US long-term and 170 million users are suddenly removed, it seems likely that the way we use the app will change significantly.
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