**TikTok’s Possible U.S. Shutdown on Sunday Involves Severe Actions**
TikTok is preparing for a potential shutdown in the United States this Sunday, and the situation may be more drastic than users expect.
Should TikTok not find a buyer by Sunday, January 19, the platform could be compelled to terminate its operations in the U.S. This arises from a law enacted by President Biden in April, requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by the given deadline.
However, as reported by [*The Information*](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tiktok-prepares-for-immediate-shut-off-in-the-u-s-on-sunday) (via [*Reuters*](https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-preparing-us-shut-off-sunday-information-reports-2025-01-15/)), TikTok is getting ready to adopt a more severe tactic. The platform is said to plan to completely block U.S. users from accessing the application. New users in the U.S. would be unable to download or install TikTok, while current users trying to open the app would receive a pop-up message directing them to a website containing information about the ban. This would effectively make the app unusable for all users in the U.S.
**[SEE ALSO: TikTok Ban Countdown: Keep Informed as the Deadline Nears](https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-ban-countdown-latest-updates)**
Interestingly, this level of restriction exceeds what the law stipulates. The legislation only requires TikTok to disable new downloads of the app from Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. Existing users would still have the ability to access the app, although without updates or new features—at least for the time being.
The rationale behind TikTok’s choice to enforce such an extensive shutdown is not entirely clear. Reports indicate that the app may allow users to download their data prior to the ban being implemented.
**[SEE ALSO: How to Save Your TikToks and Data Before the Ban](https://mashable.com/article/how-to-download-tiktok-videos-data)**
TikTok has been actively contesting the ban in court, disputing the Biden administration’s assertions that the app’s connections to China present a national security threat. Despite these challenges, the company has seen little success in reversing the ruling.
There remains a slim possibility for ByteDance to secure a last-minute buyer to prevent the shutdown. Microsoft, which previously sought to [acquire TikTok](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58719674) but was unsuccessful, and [X CEO Elon Musk](https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-elon-musk) have been cited as potential options.
As the deadline approaches, TikTok users in the U.S. are left with uncertainty regarding the future of the app and whether they will soon lose access to one of the most widely used social media platforms in the nation.