tiktok It has gone dark in America Now that the sanctions-or-disinvestment law passed last year is coming into effect. The app has been removed from both Apple and Google's app stores, is not available on the web, and users who open the app are blocked from watching videos.
The shutdown has had the staggering effect of removing the social network used by 170 million people in the US, according to TikTok's own data. While other social media platforms have experienced outages, even prolonged ones, no network as big as TikTok has shut down without any indication of whether it will come back online.
This is despite the Biden administration saying it is passing on enforcement responsibilities on the Trump administration And TikTok is threatening to go offline A “stunt.” TikTok has insisted that without clear assurances, it will have to close shop in the US.
Inside TikTok, an email sent to employees stated that “President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok after he takes office on January 20” and “Teams are working on improving our app. “Are working tirelessly to bring him back to America.” As soon as possible.”
A warning message began appearing in TikTok's app around 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, informing users of the pending shutdown:
We regret that the US law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19 and will force us to make our services temporarily unavailable.
We are working to restore service in the US as quickly as possible and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned.
The app started blocking users around 10:30 pm ET. A message now appears saying the app is “not available right now” but the company expects a solution under President-elect Trump:
Sorry, TikTok is not available right now
There has been a law banning TikTok in the US, unfortunately, this means you can't use TikTok right now.
We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!
Several other apps owned by TikTok's parent company ByteDance have also been taken offline, including video editor CapCut and social platform Lemon8.
The ban-or-divestment law, which takes effect on Sunday, effectively bans TikTok unless ByteDance sells a majority of its stake in the company. But with the deadline fast approaching, ByteDance has shown little sign of being willing to sell. Instead, TikTok sued the US over this law and ultimately lost a case in the Supreme Court last week.
TikTok's new strategy appears to be a continuing boost to Trump, who — despite initially calling for a ban on TikTok — has recently indicated he wants to find a way to keep it around. Earlier today, they extended the deadline for ByteDance's sale by 90 days.