Earlier this yr, all people was all aflutter in regards to the U.S. ban on TikTok.

However when the ban moved into the courts, all people moved on to one thing else.

Nicely, the ban is again. Or is it?

Final week, a federal appeals courtroom upheld the legislation, citing nationwide safety considerations and rejecting TikTok mum or dad firm ByteDance’s argument that the ban violates the constitutional proper to freedom of speech.

The choice clears the best way for U.S. customers to lose access to TikTok on Jan. 19.

However not so quick.

What’s actually taking place? What’s in all probability going to occur earlier than you lose the dance movies, canine memes, and common ridiculousness of TikTok — and one of the vital highly effective advertising and marketing and commerce platforms of the final decade?

Because the clock ticks, we requested Robert Rose, CMI’s chief technique advisor, for his take. Right here’s what he needed to say:

Court docket: TikTok isn’t a First Modification situation

The clock is working out on TikTok and ByteDance.

Choose Douglas Ginsburg laid down the legislation in his ruling to uphold the TikTok divestiture. Within the choice, he wrote, “The First Modification exists to guard free speech in the USA. Right here, the federal government acted solely to guard that freedom from a international adversary nation and to restrict that adversary’s capability to assemble knowledge on folks in the USA.”

Translation: It’s difficult.

After all, TikTok’s legal professionals clapped again, saying the ban will “silence the voices of over 170 million People right here within the U.S. and all over the world on Jan. 19, 2025.”

And let’s be actual — how will the world survive with out countless cat movies and questionable life hacks?

First Modification points apart, TikTok has grown right into a advertising and marketing, promoting, and e-commerce juggernaut. I’ve talked many occasions about how each B2C and B2B entrepreneurs see actual engagement, actual success, and actual {dollars} utilizing TikTok.

Don’t consider the Jan. 19 deadline

In spring, I spared you from studying the invoice and outlined what was going on. And this time, I have to say that many media retailers nonetheless will not be speaking what’s actually taking place. They make it sound like Jan. 19 is a line within the sand, after which all entry to the community will probably be blocked. That’s merely not true.

The Jan. 19 date is 270 days after the invoice was signed into legislation — the deadline for ByteDance to divest from TikTok. However TikTok has filed an emergency injunction to cease the ban from taking impact.

Truthfully, this was at all times going to occur, even with out the attention-grabbing wrinkle that Donald Trump, who stated throughout the election marketing campaign he opposed the ban, will take workplace on Jan. 20. Speak about timing.

In March, I stated TikTok was in little hazard of going anyplace, and I nonetheless consider that.

The Jan. 19 date would possibly get stayed by the courts, the U.S. infrastructure may not have the ability to block the location, or President Trump would possibly step in earlier than dinner on Inauguration Day. In any case, a TikTok conclusion won’t be realized within the subsequent few months.

So, in case you are pondering a pivot out of TikTok or contemplating a pivot in, take a breath. Give it a couple of weeks. I believe you’ll be simply wonderful.

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Cowl picture by Joseph Kalinowski/Content material Advertising and marketing Institute


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