In a major development, the U.S. Supreme Court has confirmed the imminent shutdown of TikTok within the United States, following a ruling that deems the app a national security threat. TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, faces a deadline of January 19, 2025, to comply with the ruling or face termination of its services in the country.

The U.S. government has long raised concerns over the app’s potential to collect user data for the Chinese government, fueling fears of espionage and privacy violations. In response, TikTok’s parent company has been under pressure to either sell its operations in the U.S. to an American company or face a permanent shutdown.

If no legal relief or extensions are granted, users in the U.S. will no longer be able to download or use TikTok starting January 19. Even those with the app already installed will find themselves unable to upload content, while existing media on the platform will also become inaccessible.

This move marks a new chapter in the tech battle between the U.S. and China, with other countries watching closely to see how it will impact international tech policy. As users begin exploring alternative platforms, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.