President Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 2025 or face a U.S. ban. With 170 million American users, the platform's future remains uncertain under the incoming Trump administration.

While Trump previously supported banning TikTok in 2020, he has since changed his stance. During his 2024 campaign, Trump explicitly stated "for all of those who want to save TikTok in America, vote for Trump," following lobbying efforts from ByteDance investor Jeff Yass.

TikTok is currently challenging the ban through legal channels, arguing it violates First Amendment rights. The case is being decided by the Court of Appeals in Washington D.C., with potential for Supreme Court review that could delay any ban until summer 2025.

Legal experts believe the Supreme Court may take special interest in this case due to its scope. "It affects 170 million Americans. It's a core First Amendment question. The Supreme Court has shown in the last few years that it cares about these digital First Amendment cases," explains Alan Rozenshtein, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Meanwhile, TikTok employees remain cautiously optimistic, with internal discussions about the ban being minimal. According to anonymous sources within the company, most employees believe the lengthy court battles will provide ample time for transition if needed.

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