The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday, upholding a nationwide ban on TikTok.
US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban
This decision means the app will be inaccessible to users in the United States from Sunday, 19 January 2025, unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, agrees to sell its stake.
The ban has raised concerns among TikTok’s 170 million US users, as the platform’s fate now rests in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump, who assumes office on Monday, January 20.
TikTok has been at the centre of national security debates, with US officials alleging the app could provide American user data to the Chinese government under Beijing’s intelligence laws.
ByteDance has consistently denied these claims and refused to sell the platform, stating it operates independently.
President Joe Biden confirmed he will not enforce the ban during his final days in office, leaving Trump to decide its implementation.
If enforced, TikTok could be removed from app stores, preventing new downloads and updates. The app may also voluntarily “go dark,” displaying a message directing users to a webpage explaining the ban.
TikTokers find a new home in RedNote
As TikTok’s US ban looms, many users are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media app known as Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book.” RedNote has seen a surge of 700,000 new US users in the last two days, making it the most downloaded free app on the US App Store.
Unlike TikTok, RedNote operates without the typical internet restrictions that separate China from the global web, fostering an unexpected cultural exchange between US and Chinese users.
American users have embraced the platform as a symbolic defiance against their government’s actions, with many humorously referring to themselves as “Chinese spies.”
While RedNote is experiencing a wave of popularity, its future in the US remains uncertain. The same national security concerns that led to TikTok’s ban could extend to RedNote, potentially limiting its growth.
Additionally, Beijing’s tight internet controls could affect the platform’s ability to sustain open exchanges with international users.