TikTok has gone offline for U.S. users just hours before a new law banning the popular social media platform was set to take effect. This follows a Supreme Court ruling on Friday that upheld the ban unless TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform by January 19. However, ByteDance has refused to seek a buyer.
U.S. users were greeted by a message on the app, stating that the ban was in effect and declaring: “you can’t use TikTok for now.” The message further stated, “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 move comes after TikTok issued a warning that it would “go dark” on Sunday unless the Biden administration assured the company the ban would not be enforced. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for a 90-day reprieve, saying he would “most likely” grant an extension once he assumes office on Monday.
Also READ: Trump Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Delay TikTok Ban
Reports indicate the app has also been removed from Apple and Google’s U.S. app stores, with TikTok.com no longer displaying videos. Trump has indicated the 90-day extension is likely, calling it “appropriate” given the situation.
The White House responded, dismissing TikTok’s actions as a “stunt,” with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that the next administration would handle any actions relating to the law.
TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, and U.S. national security officials have raised concerns about potential data security risks posed by the app, which TikTok has denied.
In response to the U.S. actions, China’s embassy in Washington D.C. condemned the ban, accusing the U.S. of unfairly targeting TikTok. The app, which boasts 170 million U.S. users, has become a valuable tool for American political campaigns to engage younger voters.
If the ban proceeds, U.S. creators and small businesses reliant on TikTok for revenue face severe disruption. Many have voiced concerns about the consequences, including fashion designer Nicole Bloomgarden, who stated that the platform was vital to her business’s success.
This decision follows a law passed in April that mandates the removal of TikTok from app stores and web-hosting services in the U.S. in the coming days, with possible long-term consequences similar to the platform’s ban in India in 2020.
The legal battle is far from over, and with TikTok at the center of geopolitical tensions, its future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
