The future of TikTok in the United States is uncertain as the legislative process moves forward. After the House passed a bill mandating a sale of the app by its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or face a ban, the next step is the Senate. However, several senators have raised concerns about the legislation, including potential constitutional issues.
If the bill becomes law, President Biden has indicated he would sign it, but this would not immediately result in a ban. ByteDance would have six months to find a buyer for the app, or else app stores and hosting services would no longer offer TikTok for download or updates.
The likelihood of a ban depends on whether ByteDance can find a buyer willing to meet the high price tag, as well as potential complications with the Chinese government blocking a sale. Legal challenges could also delay a ban, as TikTok or others may challenge the legislation in court.
For existing TikTok users, the app may still work even if a ban is implemented, but service could degrade without updates or maintenance. Users would also be able to download their videos and content as required by the law.
The future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain as the legislative process continues to unfold.
