In a collision between free speech and national security, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over the fate of TikTok, a digital age cultural phenomenon that roughly half the U.S. population uses for entertainment and information.

At issue is the constitutionality of legislation passed by Congress and signed into federal law in April 2024 that could force TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell the app to a U.S.

On Friday, TikTok will get the chance to argue its case before the Supreme Court, which is deciding whether the government can ban the platform if it doesn’t sever ties with China. With the app’s fate hanging in the balance,