TikTok, the video sharing platform, plans to maintain employment, pay, and benefits for its 7,000 U.S. employees even if the Supreme Court does not block a law mandating the sale or ban of the app in the United States.
The company assured employees in a memo that their wellbeing remains a priority and offices will remain operational despite the uncertainty surrounding the January 19 deadline, Reuters news report said.
Supreme Court appears inclined to uphold the law, which prohibits new downloads but allows existing users temporary access until services degrade. TikTok is exploring options to protect its employees and over 170 million U.S. users while addressing potential service interruptions.
If the ban proceeds, TikTok plans to shut down its app entirely for U.S. users, a stricter approach than the law’s requirements, The Information reports. Users attempting to open the app would see a pop-up redirecting them to a website with information about the ban and an option to download their data.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, faces a deadline to sell its U.S. assets by January 2025 under a law signed by President Joe Biden. The company has sought to delay the law’s implementation, citing First Amendment concerns.
Amid the uncertainty, more than half a million TikTok users have joined RedNote, a Chinese lifestyle app known as Xiaohongshu in China, as an alternative platform. RedNote, with over 300 million monthly active users as of 2023, has gained popularity as a space for lifestyle documentation and recommendations.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
