TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned short-video platform, ceased operations in the United States late Saturday as a federal ban came into effect, leaving its 170 million American users in digital limbo.
The app disappeared from Apple and Google app stores around 10:45 p.m. ET, and users attempting to access the platform were met with a message explaining the situation.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned,” the notification read.
The ban follows months of escalating tensions over national security concerns tied to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing.
The outgoing Biden administration had earlier upheld a law mandating the app’s shutdown unless ByteDance divested its U.S. operations by January 19.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday, told reporters earlier on Saturday that he would “most likely” extend a 90-day reprieve to TikTok. "The extension is appropriate as we need to review this carefully. We’ll work towards a solution," Trump remarked.
The app, which has become a cultural phenomenon and a vital marketing tool for small businesses across the U.S., is now inaccessible. This comes as a significant blow to creators and companies who rely on the platform for their livelihood.
TikTok expressed disappointment in the ban, stating that the government had failed to provide clarity on its position. Meanwhile, the White House dismissed the platform's warnings as “unnecessary alarmism,” urging the app’s representatives to address their concerns with the incoming administration.
