Although there were earlier rumors that ByteDance was evaluating the sale of TikTok’s operations to Elon Musk to ensure the platform could continue operating within the United States, TikTok later issued a clarification. As the January 19 deadline approaches—when TikTok faces a ban if it cannot sell its U.S. operations to a domestic entity—new developments are surfacing. According to sources obtained by The Information, TikTok may opt to voluntarily shut down its services within the United States on the evening of January 19, allowing users to download and preserve their previously uploaded content.
When U.S. users attempt to access TikTok via the website or app at that time, they might only encounter a message explaining the legislation that led to the platform’s ban within the country. Users will have the option to download their uploaded content for safekeeping, but accessing TikTok’s services would require connecting to versions provided in other regions.
It is anticipated that TikTok will no longer be available for download on the U.S. Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Existing app installations would also cease to receive updates. Additionally, Oracle, which has been assisting with hosting TikTok’s uploaded data, is expected to terminate related network services, effectively halting TikTok’s operations within the United States.
However, TikTok’s offices in the U.S. will remain open, and staff will continue to work as usual, albeit with potential adjustments to their responsibilities. For instance, partnerships with influencers may persist, but the reach of their content will likely shift to audiences outside the United States.
Currently, TikTok has an estimated 170 million users in the U.S. With the impending ban, many users have started migrating to other platforms, including the Chinese app REDnote, which has attracted significant downloads. Discontent over TikTok’s situation is also being expressed through hashtags like #TikTokRefugee.
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