TikTok prepares to shut down Sunday amid Supreme Court ruling

TikTok announced it will cease operations in the U.S. starting Sunday unless the Biden Administration provides a clear assurance regarding its future, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its American assets. The law was enacted due to national security concerns, specifically about the potential for the Chinese government to access sensitive data on American users. Many small businesses, heavily reliant on TikTok for sales and customer engagement, fear significant financial losses if the app is banned. Business owners like Jessica Simon and Denise English expressed their distress over losing a vital platform that has fundamentally changed their operations and customer reach. In response to the ruling, there are calls from some lawmakers to extend the deadline for divestment to allow more time for resolution. The uncertainty surrounding TikTok's status has left numerous creators and entrepreneurs anxious about their future.