NEW YORK, Jan 19: TikTok has gone dark for its 170 million U.S. users following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a federal law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations. The decision, rooted in national security concerns, marks a turning point for one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.

The ruling enforces a law mandating ByteDance to sell its U.S. business to an American entity or face a nationwide ban. Despite the Biden administration choosing not to implement the ban during its tenure, President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to grant a 90-day extension to facilitate negotiations once he takes office.

TikTok’s shutdown has left millions of creators and businesses in limbo, forcing many to migrate to alternative platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. The abrupt halt has also reignited digital privacy, free speech, and U.S.-China tech relations debates.

This is not the first time TikTok has faced regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. In 2020, former President Trump issued executive orders to ban the app, citing similar national security concerns. Although those efforts stalled in court, the latest Supreme Court decision has renewed momentum against TikTok’s operations.

TikTok has not commented on the recent developments but previously denied allegations that it poses a security threat, emphasizing its commitment to data transparency. ByteDance has also explored options to comply with U.S. regulations, including divestiture or restructuring.

As the January 2025 deadline passes, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with ongoing discussions about whether President-elect Trump will broker a deal or extend the app’s operating timeline. Users and industry observers are closely monitoring the situation, as the fate of TikTok could set a precedent for how the U.S. addresses foreign-owned technology companies.