TikTok Plans to Shut Down in U.S. Jan. 19 Due to Ban

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TikTok's time in the United States may be up.

After all, the social media platform said it plans on shutting off in the Unites States Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court can strike down or delay the implementation of a law intended to force ByteDance—the Chinese-owned parent company behind the app—to sell to an American buyer, according to the Associated Press.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law a legislation to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores and prohibit internet providers across the nation from allowing access to the platform if ByteDance cannot sell to an American company by Jan. 19.

The legislation was put in place amid concerns of China possibly using TikTok to spy on U.S. residents.

In response, TikTok filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop the ban from taking effect, arguing that it violates the First Amendment and will generate "substantial losses," per legal documents reviewed by E! News.

The Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10 over whether or not the law should be upheld.

In the meantime, several entrepreneurs have launched a bid to purchase TikTok, including Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary.

"This isn't just about buying TikTok's U.S. assets," he wrote in a Jan. 6 message on X, formerly Twitter. "It’s about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users."

O'Leary continued, "It's about empowering creators and small businesses. And it’s about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms. TikTok has immense potential, not just as a tool for creators but as a driver of meaningful economic and social impact."

However, O'Leary said he'll likely need an assist from President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn into office on Jan. 20.

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"Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead," he explained during a Jan. 6 appearance on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum, per The Wrap. "So, I wanted to let him know—as well as others in his cabinet—that we're doing this, and we're going to need their help."

But for what it's worth, ByteDance has previously said that TikTok is not for sale.

"ByteDance does not have any plans to sell TikTok," the company shared in an April statement translated from Chinese on Toutiao, another social media platform it owns, adding that rumors of a sale were "untrue."

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