The fate of TikTok in the United States is uncertain, but Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey is taking steps to delay its looming ban. With just days remaining before the platform is expected to shut down, Markey has proposed extending the TikTok Deadline Act by 270 days. If Congress approves this extension, it would give TikTok additional time to separate itself from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok faces shutdown as January 19 deadline looms
TikTok will โgo darkโ on January 19 unless the Supreme Court steps in to delay the ban. The Court is reviewing whether the law that underpins the ban violates the First Amendment and is expected to announce its decision this week. For millions of users and creators who rely on TikTok, the stakes are high.
Speaking on the Senate floor on Monday, Markey highlighted the concerns shared by TikTok users across the country. โAs the January 19 deadline approaches, TikTok creators and users are understandably alarmed,โ he said. โThey are uncertain about the platformโs future, their accounts, and the vibrant online communities theyโve built.โ He argued that another app cannot replace TikTokโs unique cultural and informational ecosystem. A ban, he warned, would silence millions and dismantle these communities.
Concerns over privacy, mental health, and livelihoods
While acknowledging the serious risks TikTok poses to privacy and the mental health of young users, Markey emphasised that banning the app outright would create significant consequences for millions of Americans. Many depend on TikTok for social connections or their livelihoods, as the platform has become a critical tool for small businesses, influencers, and educators.
The legislation to extend the deadline has garnered bipartisan support. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) joined Markey in submitting an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reverse a lower courtโs decision that upheld the TikTok ban. The brief argued that the ban conflicts with First Amendment rights and sets a dangerous precedent for free speech and online platforms.
Whatโs next for TikTok?
As the Supreme Court deliberates, users are left in limbo. A shutdown could impact not just individual creators but businesses and organisations that rely on TikTok as a platform for outreach and engagement. For now, the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act offers hope that the platform could have more time to address security concerns without an immediate ban.
The coming days will determine whether TikTok can continue operating in the US or if millions of users will be forced to say goodbye to the app that has become a cornerstone of digital culture.
