- Popular App Shuts Down late Saturday ahead of January 19 date
- TikTok lost their case to have ban overturned at US Supreme Court on Fri
- President-Elect Donald Trump has hinted that he will Extend the app by 90 Days
Washington, DC, USA (WNEWS US) – On Saturday evening, TikTok ceased operations for its approximately 170 million U.S. users, following the enactment of a federal ban targeting the Chinese-owned app. Users attempting to access the platform were met with a message stating, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
TikTok’s action follows the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to uphold a ban that garnered broad bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in April. This law prohibits American companies from hosting or serving content on the Chinese-owned social media platform unless it is acquired by a buyer from the United States or one of its allies.
Legal Battle and Supreme Court Decision
TikTok’s action comes after the Supreme Court on Friday upheld a ban that was passed with broad bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law in April by President Joe Biden. The law prevents American companies from hosting or serving content for the Chinese-owned social media platform unless it sells itself to a buyer from the United States or one of its allies.
Political Developments and Future Prospects
President-elect Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to address the situation, stating he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension to find a non-Chinese buyer for the platform. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed hope for a resolution, thanking the incoming president for the “opportunity to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok … .”
TikTok might not be gone for long. The company suggested it could return soon, possibly even 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 posted in its pop-up message to users who opened the app beginning late Saturday night. “Please stay tuned!”
President-elect Trump indicated that he will likely postpone the ban on TikTok for 90 days after assuming office on Monday. However, he clarified that he has not made a final decision during a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday.
“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump said in the interview.
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” he added.
The law enacted last year permits the president to postpone the ban’s implementation by 90 days, provided that evidence is presented demonstrating substantial progress made by parties involved in negotiating a sale of TikTok to a US-owned company.
TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, has rejected potential buyers. The company has cited its popularity among American users and its value to small businesses nationwide as reasons for its resistance to any changes in ownership. ByteDance is determined to maintain its online presence without any alterations.
The recent blackout on TikTok, coupled with the suggestion that it might soon resume its service, marks the latest chapter in a protracted saga that has left the app’s future uncertain for months.
The app has also disappeared from Apple’s App Store. While it still appears on Google’s Play Store, users encounter an error message when trying to download it. Furthermore, other apps owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, such as CapCut, also displayed a similar error message on Saturday night.
Lawmakers said TikTok’s ties to China and its access to reams of data posed a threat to national security.
Impact on Users and Content Creators
The sudden shutdown has left millions of users and content creators in limbo. Many have begun migrating to alternative platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, to continue their online presence. The hashtag “#TikTokRefugee” has gained traction as creators seek to rebuild their communities elsewhere.
Global Implications
While the ban currently affects only U.S. users, the situation has sparked discussions worldwide about data privacy, national security, and the influence of social media platforms. Other countries are closely monitoring the developments, considering similar actions based on their assessments of security risks associated with foreign-owned applications.
