TikTok ruling: What a ban could mean for you [Video]

On Friday, Jan. 10, the Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States, beginning on Jan. 19, unless the popular social media app is sold by ByteDance, its China-based parent company.

The U.S. government aims to ban TikTok because it says Chinese authorities could compel the company to share sensitive data about its large American user base or manipulate the platform’s content using its proprietary algorithm. TikTok argues these fears are exaggerated and claims the ban would violate the First Amendment.

ByteDance has said it won’t sell the short-form video platform and TikTok’s attorney Noel Francisco says a sale might never be possible under the conditions set in the law. Francisco urged the justices to enter a temporary pause that would allow TikTok to keep operating at least until after President-elect Donald …