TikTok issues urgent memo to 17,000 US employees ahead of possible total shutdown just 3 days away

TikTok has issued an urgent memo to its 17,000 US employees ahead of a possible total shutdown that is now just three days away.

The social media platform is expected to be banned in the US on January 19 unless the Supreme Court steps in.

Donald Trump, who is due to be inaugurated one day after the ban goes into effect, has said that he should have more time to resolve the issue.

TikTok's days seem to be numbered in the US (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The popular app is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance and as of December 2024, it is reported to employ around 17,000 people in the US alone.

Over 170 million TikTok users in the US could see their favorite app face the chop in the next few days and now TikTok has issued an urgent memo.

Writing internally to its US employees, the company said: “I cannot emphasize enough that your well-being is a top priority and so most importantly, I want to reinforce that as employees in the US, your employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline.

“Our leadership team remains laser-focused on planning for various scenarios and continuing to plan the way forward.

“The bill is not written in a way that impacts the entities through which you are employed, only the US user experience.”

Existing users would still be able to access the app but downloads on app stores will be blocked from January 19.

Donald Trump is hoping to save the app (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

However, users who can still access TikTok will no longer be able to update the platform, meaning that it will eventually stop working.

Last month, Trump credited TikTok for being part of the reason for his election success in November 2024.

He said: “You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points.

“And there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it.

“Now, Joe Rogan did, and some of the other people that were recommended by my son Barron.

“He knew names and I said, ‘who is that? Tell me, who’s that?’ ‘Dad, you got to be kidding. I can’t believe you don’t know’.”

The president-elect has been looking for ways to save the app ahead of its looming ban and there has been talk of an executive order being put in place.

However, a solution has yet to be confirmed.