It's the end of an era for TikTok users In the US, where the app will be officially banned later this month.
The US Supreme Court voted in a unanimous decision on Friday, January 17, to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Apps Act, a law that effectively bans the app in the country, according to CBS News. TikTok will have to be removed from smartphone app stores when the law goes into effect on Sunday, January 19.
Congress passed the law last year, making it illegal for service providers (such as Google or Apple) to “distribute, maintain, or update” an app controlled by a foreign adversary (China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran). Government officials have been cautious about the ability of ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to access US citizens' data for fear of espionage. Meanwhile, ByteDance claimed the ban was a violation of First Amendment protections regarding freedom of expression.
TikTok could remain available if it splits from ByteDance, and the president could grant a 90-day extension if a sale is underway.
With the Supreme Court voting to uphold the law, a complete list of Social media starsCelebrities and other users will have to leave the platform forever.
“I think everyone loses” Mark D'Amelio He said in “IMPACT x Nightline” special from ABC News Studios As of May 2024. “I think small businesses are losing out. “I think politicians are losing too.”
Mark and his wife, Heidi D'Ameliothey are the parents of social media experts Dixie and Charliewho dances on the Internet It went viral In 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We didn't call ourselves The first family of TikTok“It's hard to believe that so many people sat down and watched a video,” Mark, 56, added on the ABC News special. I think the ability to turn an obscure person into a famous person overnight, I don't think there's any other platform like that.
There's also a possibility that a US owner could purchase the app from ByteDance – and Shark tank star Kevin O'Leary I've already made an informal offer.
“We want to make it clear… that we are buyers,” the 70-year-old O'Leary said. Yahoo! finance On Friday, January 10th. “We have a valid union. We are willing to pay up to $20 billion, and we don't need the algorithm. “We don’t want the algorithm.”
O'Leary formed a consortium with other entrepreneurs, including a billionaire Frank McCourt JrTo buy the app for $20 billion.
“You have to assume that in order for them to know there's an offer, we found a way to get it to them,” he told the outlet, referring to ByteDance's reluctance to accept the offer. “I know all the shareholders. So does Frank. We know who they are. We've known them for two years. I know them personally.”
