TikTok might go for a total shutdown in the US on Sunday

TikTok is preparing for a shutdown in the U.S. on Sunday, but it might be more radical than many users expected.

If TikTok doesn't find a buyer before Sunday, Jan 19, it will likely have to stop operation in the U.S. This is due to a law signed by President Biden in April, which requires TikTok parent company Bytedance to sell its U.S. assets by the deadline.

But according to The Information (via Reuters), TikTok is planning to completely shut off U.S. users from accessing the app. New users in the U.S. would be unable to download and install the app, while existing users attempting to open the app would merely see a pop-up message directing them to a website with more information about the ban, thus rendering them completely unable to use the TikTok app.

This is not what the law requires. TikTok is actually required to only ban new TikTok downloads on Apple and Google's app stores in the U.S., while existing users would still be able to use the app (for a time, at least), though they wouldn't be able to update it.

It's unclear why TikTok would go for such a nuclear option. The app reportedly plans to give users the option to download all their data.

TikTok has been fighting the ban, which has been put in place due to the Biden administration's belief that China has too much of an influence over TikTok, through legal means, though with little success.

There's also the chance for ByteDance to find a last-minute buyer. Microsoft, which has previously tried to acquire TikTok but failed, and X CEO Elon Musk, have been floated as possible options.