TikTok users in the United States experienced the platform going offline just hours before a scheduled nationwide ban. A message displayed on the app informed users that a law banning TikTok had been enacted, stating, “you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The video-sharing platform faced the ban due to concerns about its ties to the Chinese government. TikTok was given a deadline of January 19 to transfer ownership to an approved US-based buyer. ByteDance, the platform’s parent company, has not finalized a sale.
President Trump Likely to Grant Temporary Reprieve
President Joe Biden indicated he would leave the TikTok decision to his successor, Donald Trump. Trump mentioned that he would “most likely” extend TikTok’s deadline by 90 days after taking office on Monday. Speaking to NBC News, Trump stated, “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate.”
TikTok users reported that the app was removed from Apple and Google’s US app stores. The TikTok website also stopped displaying videos. The company acknowledged the situation in a message stating, “We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible.”
Legal and User Reactions to the Ban
The Supreme Court upheld the law passed in April last year, which bans TikTok unless ByteDance sells it to a US buyer. TikTok argued the law infringes on free speech rights, affecting its 170 million US users. CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed gratitude to Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution.” Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
As the platform went offline, TikTok creators shared emotional farewells with followers. Content creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that losing TikTok would significantly impact her income. Another user, Erika Thompson, highlighted that the loss of educational content would harm the community.
Earlier on Saturday, TikTok displayed a message to US users explaining the temporary service disruption due to the ban. The platform promised to work on restoring services as quickly as possible.