TikTok has said it could go dark on Sunday after the Supreme Court ruled against its bid to avoid a ban that could shut the app down.
The looming ban is the end result of 2024 legislation passed on national security concerns that called for TikTok parent ByteDance to sell the popular short-video app or see it shut in the US on 19 January.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday, has said he would try to find a “political resolution”.
The president-elect has spoken to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the issue.
Analysis:
America flinches as TikTok prepares to ‘go dark’ – will Trump save the day?
Below are the answers to some key questions:
What happens to the app?
New users will not be able to download TikTok from Apple and Google app stores and existing users will not be able to update the app meaning it will soon become impossible to use.
Some of the so-called “TikTok refugees” are turning to a Chinese app called Xiaohongshu – aka RedNote.
It is a lifestyle social media app which allows users to post short videos, photos and texts, and it also includes functions like live-streaming and shopping.
Read more:
What is RedNote?
How will users be affected?
TikTok’s estimated 170 million users in the US will still be able to use the app because it is already downloaded on their phones.
But over time, without software and security updates, the app will become redundant.
At best, a web-based version of the service might be accessible that has fewer features than the app, and even that might not work, experts have said.
Some users could try to access TikTok through…
