Tech Desk 
Jan 16, 2025
Following months after a bill was tabled in Congress mandating a ban on TikTok, the short-video platform is reportedly preparing to shut down operations in the US on January 19.
The ban follows reports making the rounds on the internet suggesting the platform's possible sale to billionaire Elon Musk.
According to Reuters, should a last-minute repulsion not emerge, the ban on TikTok will be implemented on Sunday across the United States. The popular social media app in the US is used by around 170 million Americans.
Citing sources, the news outlet also reported that President-elect Donald Trump, set to hold office on the day after the TikTok ban takes place, is mulling over delaying the shutdown of TikTok's operations for 60 to 90 days.
The law banning TikTok had set January 19 as the deadline before which the social media app could evade the ban if ByteDance, its parent company, would divest the site to a US-based company.
It's worth noting that users who have downloaded the app will still be able to use TikTok. However, the law also prohibits companies across the country from facilitating the app's functionality, maintenance, or updation.
"TikTok itself is a fantastic platform. We're going to find a way to preserve it but protect people's data," said Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser.
While the Trump administration has remained tight-lipped regarding the temporary cancellation of the ban, he earlier said that he needs some time after taking office to pursue a "political resolution" of the issue.
