A federal ban on TikTok has left millions of U.S. users unable to access the app, sparking concerns and discussions about its future.
The app’s website echoed the same sentiment, telling folks they couldn’t use TikTok anymore. Before this, TikTok hinted that it would be “temporarily unavailable” and promised to work on getting things back up and running. But who knows how long that’ll take?
Apple confirmed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are no longer available in the U.S. If you had the app before, it’ll stay on your device, but you can’t redownload it if you delete it. Plus, no in-app purchases or new subscriptions are possible anymore.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, thanked Trump for his support in keeping the app alive in the U.S. He mentioned how important it is to have a president who understands the platform. Trump, on the other hand, hinted at possibly giving TikTok a 90-day extension to keep operating.
Lawmakers have been worried about TikTok for a while, seeing it as a national security risk because of its Chinese ownership. The app is owned by ByteDance, which is based in Beijing. The law that led to this ban was passed in April and signed by President Biden, who was concerned about user data potentially falling into the wrong hands.
After the ban started, some people in China criticized the U.S. for suppressing the app. A former editor from a Chinese newspaper called it a dark moment for internet development. TikTok doesn’t operate in China, where they have a different app called Douyin that follows strict rules.
The Biden administration is leaving the law’s implementation to Trump, who takes office the day after the ban. TikTok had warned it would go dark if no clear statement was made about its future. The law prohibits app stores from offering TikTok, and companies could face hefty fines for violations.
Experts say it’s unclear if TikTok shut down voluntarily or if it was forced to do so after losing support from tech providers. The law does allow the president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress, but no buyers have stepped up yet.
Interestingly, an AI startup recently proposed merging with TikTok’s U.S. business, and other investors are also eyeing the app. It’s a wild situation, and everyone’s waiting to see what happens next.
