Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a bill which gave Chinese-based tech firm ByteDance a deadline of January 19 to either sell the video platform TikTok or face it being banned.

However, the company and content creators who earn their living from its app are now asking the Supreme Court for an emergency stay. 

One third of TikTok's daily users are located in the United States

According to Fox Business, the request was filed on Monday, with attorneys asking that a decision be rendered by January 6.

This is because ByteDance needs time "to perform the complex task of shutting down the TikTok platform only in the United States."

ByteDance pointed to how roughly a third of its daily users are located in the United States, meaning that even a temporary suspension of service there would threaten its business.

Fox Business noted that the request was submitted to Chief Justice John Roberts, as he oversees emergency appeals from courts in Washington, D.C.

ByteDance lawyers say Supreme Court needs "breathing room" ahead of deadline

The move came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied an emergency request to block the law on Friday.

In a unanimous decision, a panel of judges previously rejected arguments that the legislation constituted a First Amendment violation.

In their brief, ByteDance's lawyers argued that "[a] modest delay in enforcing the Act will create breathing room for this Court to conduct an orderly review and the new Administration to evaluate this matter — before this vital channel for Americans to communicate with their fellow citizens and the world is closed."

That was a reference to the fact that President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for TikTok after having previously criticized the platform.

Trump: "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok"

Fox Business recalled how Trump made heavy use of the platform during this year's presidential campaign as a way to reach younger voters.

Meanwhile, CBS News reported that Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this week.

TikTok CEO meets with Trump ahead of January ban
https://t.co/Ox9TjuUCMO

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 17, 2024

"We'll take a look at TikTok. 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 that," Trump was quoted as telling journalists on Monday.