TikTok may completely shut down its app for U.S. users on Sunday as a federal ban on the platform nears, according to reports. The looming ban, driven by national security concerns, has prompted a wave of users to flock to the Chinese-owned alternative app, RedNote.
The U.S. government has issued ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, an ultimatum: sell the app to a government-approved buyer or face a nationwide ban. TikTokers attempting to access the app on Sunday may be greeted by a pop-up message redirecting them to a website explaining the ban and allowing them to download their data.
While the app will not be immediately deleted from users’ devices or experience a full blackout, it will no longer appear in app stores or be available for download. Mobile carriers, including Apple and Google, will also be prohibited from supporting the app through updates, which is expected to render TikTok glitchy and ultimately unusable over time.
Reports this week suggested Elon Musk was in talks with China about acquiring TikTok. However, the platform quickly refuted these rumors. “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
With the January 19 deadline fast approaching, the chances of a last-minute sale appear slim. TikTok has filed legal challenges to delay the ban, arguing that it violates the company’s First Amendment rights. The U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on the case Friday, is expected to rule soon. Early indications suggest the court is likely to uphold the ban.
TikTok’s U.S. audience, which includes over 170 million users—nearly half the country’s population—is bracing for the app’s possible shutdown. The company estimates that one-third of its users would abandon the app within a month of the ban.
In response, many Americans are turning to RedNote, another Chinese-owned app, as a replacement. RedNote quickly climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store this week, becoming the most downloaded app in the U.S. The platform, which originally catered to Chinese users, is now working to adapt its content for English-speaking audiences.
