Over 170 Million Americans Face TikTok Ban

TikTok faces a potential shutdown in the U.S. starting Sunday, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a law requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations due to national security concerns. The ruling allows for the app to be removed from U.S. app stores, affecting approximately 170 million American users and numerous small businesses reliant on the platform for revenue. TikTok has warned that it will voluntarily shut down if the Biden administration does not provide assurances to service providers like Apple and Google against enforcement actions before the deadline. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to take over the situation upon his inauguration, with uncertainty surrounding the app's future leading to increased interest in alternatives among users. Economists estimate that small- and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the food and beverage sector, could lose billions in revenue without access to TikTok's marketing capabilities. As the deadline approaches, the app's fate remains uncertain, with ongoing discussions about potential buyers and political interventions.