The law, passed in April last year, requires ByteDance to sell its U.S. platform to a neutral party to avoid an outright ban.
TikTok challenged the law, arguing that it violates free speech protections for the country’s 170 million users.
But the Supreme Court’s ruling means the U.S. version of the app will be removed from app stores and web hosting services unless a buyer is found within the next few days.
The ban was thought not to affect TikTok users who already have the app downloaded to their phones.
However, given that updates will no longer be available once the ban goes into effect, the app will eventually degrade and become unusable over time.
But a new statement from TikTok on Friday suggests that TikTok may soon become unavailable not only to users looking to download it, but also to all existing users.
Influencers and content creators are posting videos on the app saying goodbye to their followers ahead of the impending ban.
One creator, Nicole Bloomgarden, told the BBC that not joining TikTok would amount to a huge pay cut, while another creator, Erica Thompson, said educational content on the platform was the “biggest thing” for the community. He said it would be a loss.
Some users have announced where their content will be available next, including on the Chinese video app Red Note, but so far American users have been largely unavailable. I hadn’t.
President Joe Biden’s term is set to end on Monday, the same day Donald Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as the next president. The White House earlier said enforcement of the law would therefore be left to the next president.
President Trump initially supported the move, but has expressed opposition to the ban. “My decision regarding TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I need time to consider the situation,” he said Friday.
He also revealed that he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed topics such as TikTok.
President Trump said in December that he had a “warm spot” for the app because it would help him reach younger voters in the 2024 election.
Trump’s comments marked a shift from his stance during his first term in office, when he sought to enact a similar ban through executive order.
ByteDance has vowed not to sell TikTok and said it plans to cease operating the app in the United States on Sunday unless it is given a reprieve.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted last year to ban the video-sharing app over concerns about its ties to the Chinese government. TikTok has repeatedly said it does not share information with the Chinese government.
