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TikTok will be banned in the US on Sunday

TikTok logo

Photo: Associated Press

The United States Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that would ban the social network TikTok if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the platform to an American buyer by January 19.

ByteDance challenged the law and argued that it violates free speech protections for TikTok's more than 170 million US users.

But this argument was rejected by the country's highest court.

This means that TikTok must now find a buyer as required by US law or it will be banned from Sunday.  

US officials and lawmakers have accused ByteDance of being linked to the Chinese government and have raised national security concerns over TikTok.

US President-elect Donald Trump has come out in support of TikTok after calling for its closure during his first term. Trump said that no Republican had ever won as many young voters as he did in the November 5 election, and attributed this to TikTok. Trump will be inaugurated on January 20 as the new president.