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TikTok may still be banned in the United States on April 5.

At 10 p.m. on Jan. 19, TikTok went dark.

American users were briefly denied access to videos or messaging software, and a message stating that a U.S. law was the reason for blocking their access took up their screen.

Twelve hours later, users could access TikTok but could no longer download it from either Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store — although downloading was quickly restored.

Come April 5, it could go dark again. President Donald J. Trump gave the company a 75-day reprieve that led to the restoration, but the company is still required to sell to an American entity or face a complete ban.

Although the law is aimed at protecting American citizens from foreign influence, the ban has raised free speech concerns. 

“Our First Amendment protects against government interference of free speech,” history department chair Brianna Murphy said. “A law that limits a platform of free speech does bring up an interesting Constitutional question.”

TikTok lawyers argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that its banning is unconstitutional because it restricts free speech, but the court upheld the ban on Jan. 17.

Perhaps surprisingly, some students agreed with the merits of the decision.

“I think banning TikTok isn’t a restriction on free speech but on free choice,” junior Grace Barrett said.

While the First Amendment protects freedom of expression and speech, it does not protect freedom of choice. 

“They’re not saying free speech is bad; they’re saying that they’re concerned that China owns it,” history teacher Elizabeth Morena said.

The law does not ban all social media but a specific application, and citizens are still able to express themselves online.

“There are a lot of ways for people to show their freedom of speech, not just on one app,” junior Sameera Patnala said.

Should the law go into full effect, companies could face a $5,000 fine for each individual who downloads it. 

More than 170 million Americans use TikTok, according to the Supreme Court Case TikTok, Inc. v. Garland, and it is used for a myriad of different purposes.

But the clock is ticking.