By Twink Jones Gadama

In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court has upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, divests from the popular social media platform. The ruling, which was unanimous with a 9-0 vote, has sparked concerns about freedom of expression and the future of social media in the US.

As of today, January 19, 2025, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act takes effect, making it unlawful for companies in the US to provide services to TikTok. The law aims to address national security concerns surrounding TikTok’s data collection practices and its relationship with the Chinese government.

TikTok has stated that it will be forced to “go dark” this weekend unless the outgoing Biden administration provides assurances that it will not enforce the shutdown of the app. The company has argued that the ban would infringe on the right to free expression and deprive users of their preferred digital publisher.

The Supreme Court’s decision has been met with mixed reactions. While some experts argue that the ban is necessary to protect national security, others believe that it sets a dangerous precedent for government control over social media.

“This is a classic case of the government trying to restrict speech under the guise of national security,” said Jessica Silbey, a law professor at Boston University. “The court’s decision is troubling because it suggests that the government can restrict speech without providing adequate justification”.

The ban has also sparked concerns about the impact on TikTok’s users, who number over 170 million in the US. Many users have expressed outrage and disappointment on social media, using hashtags such as #SaveTikTok and #FreeSpeech.

The Biden administration has defended the law, arguing that it is necessary to prevent the Chinese government from collecting data on Americans and manipulating what content they see. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that TikTok’s assertion that it would go dark was akin to a threat in a high-stakes game of chicken.

As the ban takes effect, it remains unclear what the future holds for TikTok and its users in the US. The company has vowed to continue fighting the ban, and some experts believe that the issue may ultimately be decided by Congress.

In the meantime, TikTok users in the US are bracing for the worst. “This is a dark day for free speech and social media,” said one user. “I hope that somehow, someway, TikTok can find a way to come back.”