A new law banning TikTok in the United States has officially taken effect, causing the popular app to stop working across the country.
On Saturday night, US users of TikTok received a message saying that the app had been banned due to a new law. The message informed users, “You can’t use TikTok for now.” The law was passed because there were concerns about the app’s connections to the Chinese government.
The Law and the Deadline
TikTok was given until January 19 to be sold to a US company to avoid the ban. The company behind TikTok, ByteDance, did not meet the deadline, leading to the ban’s enforcement. President Joe Biden had stated that he would leave the decision about TikTok to his successor, Donald Trump. However, Trump has promised that he would likely give TikTok a 90-day break from the ban after he takes office on Monday. He mentioned, “The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done, because it’s appropriate.”
App Removed from Stores
In addition to the ban, users found that TikTok was no longer available for download in the US on both Apple and Google’s app stores. The website TikTok.com also stopped showing videos, following the ban’s rules.
TikTok’s message to users read, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
Impact on Users and Creators
This is the first time the US government has banned a major social media platform. The law, passed in April of the previous year, was upheld by the US Supreme Court on Friday. The court confirmed that TikTok must be sold by its parent company, ByteDance, or face being banned. TikTok argues that the ban goes against the right to free speech for its 170 million users in the country.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed his thanks to President Trump for his willingness to work on a solution. He is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
In the hours before TikTok went offline, many content creators posted farewell videos to say goodbye to their followers. Creators like Nicole Bloomgarden said the ban would lead to a significant loss of income, while Erika Thompson shared that educational content on the app would be the “biggest loss” to the community.
Future of TikTok in the US
TikTok users were greeted with a message that explained the app’s temporary unavailability. The message read, “We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible.”
Other Countries’ Stance on TikTok
In contrast to the US, the UK has stated that it has no plans to ban TikTok. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, mentioned that the UK government would only consider a ban if there was a security threat. He also clarified that, for now, TikTok’s use of videos like dancing cats did not seem to be a security concern. However, the UK Parliament and government devices have already banned the app since 2023 due to security worries.
This situation highlights the growing debate around privacy, security, and free speech as the world’s governments respond to the influence of global social media platforms like TikTok.
