TikTok went offline in the United States on Saturday night, just under two hours before a scheduled ban was set to take effect. This sudden shutdown has cut off access to one of the world's most popular social media platforms, which had been used by 170 million Americans.
Users trying to access the app were greeted with a message stating: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The shutdown follows a Supreme Court ruling on Friday that upheld a ban passed with broad bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law in April by President Joe Biden. The law prohibits American companies from hosting or providing services for the Chinese-owned platform unless it is sold to a buyer from the U.S. or an allied nation.
However, TikTok hinted it might not be offline for long, suggesting a possible return as early as Monday. “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the company stated in a pop-up message to users late Saturday night. “Please stay tuned!”
President-elect Trump mentioned he would "most likely" delay the ban for 90 days after his inauguration on Monday, though he had not yet made a final decision. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said, “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
The TikTok blackout, along with the possibility of a swift return, adds another twist to the ongoing saga surrounding the app, which has remained in limbo for months.
The app was also removed from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store, and other apps owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, such as CapCut, displayed similar messages.
Lawmakers have voiced concerns about TikTok’s ties to China, arguing that its vast data collection poses a national security threat.
Many U.S. users, including influencers and small businesses that rely on the platform for income, expressed disappointment but held onto hope for a resolution. The Supreme Court's decision, however, dashed hopes for a last-minute judicial intervention.
Service providers, including those managing app stores and servers, have pledged to stop supporting TikTok to avoid legal consequences, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trump, who has previously warned about TikTok’s risks, is now positioning himself as the app’s potential savior. Earlier this month, he touted his popularity on TikTok and questioned why he would want to ban it.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the weeks leading up to the ban and is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
In a message to employees on Saturday, TikTok acknowledged the disappointing situation but reassured them that efforts were underway to bring the app back to U.S. users as soon as possible.
While the Biden administration indicated there would be no fines for keeping TikTok active through Sunday, the company decided to go offline after service providers expressed concerns about potential legal repercussions.
The move, along with the mention of Trump in the app's message, may increase pressure on the incoming administration to negotiate a solution.
TikTok’s future remains uncertain, but analysts believe it will ultimately continue operating in the U.S. despite the current challenges.
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