TikTok plans to cease operations in the United States starting Sunday, pending potential Supreme Court intervention to block the federal ban. The shutdown will begin with the removal of the app from Apple and Google app stores on January 19th, as mandated by federal law.

ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, must sell its US assets by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban, according to legislation signed by President Joe Biden last April. The initial ban affects new downloads while allowing existing users to continue using the app until updates stop.

The company plans to implement the following measures:

• Display pop-up messages directing users to information about the ban
• Provide users with options to download their personal data
• Remove the app from US app stores
• Maintain ability to restore services quickly if the ban is reversed

While ByteDance and TikTok continue challenging the law on First Amendment grounds, the US Supreme Court appears likely to uphold it. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in potentially reversing the ban after his inauguration, which occurs one day after the law takes effect.

The shutdown process requires minimal technical preparation, and TikTok could swiftly resume operations if the ban is lifted. However, without Supreme Court intervention or last-minute policy changes, the platform will begin winding down US operations this weekend.

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