Millions of TikTok users in the U.S. are cut off as a federal ban on the app is enforced, leaving many frustrated and confused.
New York: So, TikTok is officially out of the picture for millions of users in the U.S. The federal ban kicked in, and just like that, the app vanished from app stores. Users trying to access it got a message saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” Talk about a bummer!
It all went down on a Saturday evening, right before the law took effect. Apple and Google pulled the app, and TikTok’s website echoed the same sad news. Users were left with no choice but to close the app or head to the website, where they could download their data, which TikTok warned might take a while.
Before the ban, TikTok hinted that it would be “temporarily unavailable” and promised to work on getting back online. But who knows how long that’ll take? Apple confirmed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, were no longer available in the U.S. They also mentioned that if you had the app already, it would stay on your device, but you couldn’t redownload it if you deleted it.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, even thanked Trump for his support in keeping the app alive in the U.S. He mentioned how important it is for free speech and against censorship. It’s a wild situation, right?
In a recent interview, Trump hinted at possibly giving TikTok a 90-day extension to keep operating. If that happens, it might be announced on his inauguration day. Meanwhile, lawmakers have been worried about TikTok’s ties to China, seeing it as a national security risk.
The law that led to this ban was passed quickly, and TikTok even filed a lawsuit claiming it violated the First Amendment. The Biden administration argued that TikTok could be handing over user data to the Chinese government, but there’s been no solid proof of that so far.
After the ban, some folks in China criticized the U.S. for suppressing the app. A former editor from a Chinese newspaper called it a dark moment for the internet. It’s interesting how this whole situation is playing out on both sides.
As the ban took effect, TikTok warned it would have to go dark if the administration didn’t clarify things. The White House dismissed TikTok’s concerns as a “stunt.” But confusion lingered until the app started blocking users.
Under the new law, app stores can’t offer TikTok, and internet services can’t deliver it to U.S. users. Violators could face hefty fines. Experts are unsure if TikTok shut down voluntarily or if it was forced to do so after losing support from tech providers.
Interestingly, there’s talk of potential buyers for TikTok, but nothing concrete has emerged yet. Meanwhile, an AI startup has proposed merging with TikTok’s U.S. business. It’s a lot to unpack, and the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.
