A sweeping federal ban has brought TikTok’s service in the U.S. to an abrupt halt, affecting millions of American users. On Saturday night, the widely popular app was pulled from app stores operated by Apple and Google, with its website displaying a message confirming the ban. This move came just before the law enforcing the ban officially took effect.
Users who attempted to access TikTok on Saturday were greeted with a pop-up notification, stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” and offering a brief explanation: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The message also noted President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to find a solution that could potentially restore the platform once he takes office. TikTok urged users to “stay tuned” as they await further updates.
For those still hoping to access their content, the app’s only option was to either close the app or navigate to the TikTok website, where the same message appeared. The site offered users the option to download their data, though the company warned that processing could take several days.
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Before this shutdown, TikTok communicated that the app would be “temporarily unavailable” while the company worked to restore access as soon as possible, though no timeline for resolution was given.
In a statement, Apple confirmed that TikTok, along with other ByteDance apps, was no longer available in the U.S., though users who had the apps installed would still be able to access them, albeit without updates, redownload options, or in-app purchases. Apple emphasized that the lack of access to TikTok could affect the app’s performance and security.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew took to video to thank President Trump for his support, calling his stance a defense of the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. Chew expressed his gratitude for Trump’s understanding of the platform and its global reach.
In an interview on Saturday, Trump hinted at a possible 90-day extension that could allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. He said the decision would likely be announced on Monday, the day of his inauguration. Chew, along with other TikTok executives, is expected to attend the event.
The federal law driving the ban was passed in April as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package, which included funds for Ukraine and Israel. This law required ByteDance to sever its ties with TikTok by Sunday or face a nationwide shutdown. The Biden administration has expressed concerns about TikTok’s potential to share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and the algorithm used by the app could be manipulated to influence content in ways that might benefit Chinese interests. However, no concrete evidence of such actions has been presented to the public.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, which sided with the national security concerns, TikTok’s fate was sealed. The platform’s blackout was followed by sharp criticism from China, with former Global Times editor Hu Xijin accusing the U.S. of “brutal suppression” of an internet application that offers free speech.
TikTok has challenged the law in court, citing First Amendment rights, but as the law was upheld, the company had little recourse. The Biden administration deferred the implementation of the ban to the incoming Trump administration, leaving many details uncertain until the shutdown began.
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The law prohibits mobile app stores from offering TikTok, and internet service providers from delivering it to American users, with fines of up to $5,000 per user if the service continues. Although experts have questioned whether TikTok voluntarily shut down its service or was forced to do so due to lack of support from its tech providers, the outcome remains unclear.
The law allows the sitting president to grant a 90-day extension if a sale of the app is in progress. Despite talks about potential buyers, including investor groups, ByteDance has insisted it has no intention of selling TikTok. One such investor, artificial intelligence firm Perplexity AI, has proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations, though they are not seeking to acquire the app’s key algorithm.
Investor interest in TikTok continues, with billionaire Kevin O’Leary’s consortium and former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin among those rumored to be eyeing potential purchases.
In the wake of the ban, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, and many users are left wondering if and when they will regain access to the platform that has become a central part of their digital lives.
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