The company and its Chinese parent invoked the First Amendment in urging the justices to step in before a deadline to sell or be shut down.

The justices will quickly take up the constitutionality of a federal law that would shutter TikTok next month unless the company divests from Chinese ownership.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide whether a controversial ban on the social media app TikTok violates the First Amendment, adding a major case to its docket this term just before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.