TikTok stopped working for U.S. users late Saturday night, vanishing from Apple and Google app stores ahead of a legal deadline requiring the app’s shutdown. The move affects approximately 170 million Americans who rely on the platform for entertainment, business, and social interaction.
The ban comes under a law passed last year, upheld by the Supreme Court, mandating TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance or cease operations in the U.S., citing national security concerns. ByteDance-owned apps such as CapCut and Lemon8 were also rendered inaccessible in the United States as of Saturday.
TikTok informed users attempting to access the platform around 10:45 p.m. ET: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The company noted President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to pursue a 90-day reprieve after his inauguration on Monday, providing a glimmer of hope for the app’s reinstatement.
President Trump told NBC that a 90-day extension was likely, stating, “It’s appropriate to allow time for a resolution.” However, no official announcement has been made, leaving the platform’s fate hanging in the balance.
The White House, in a Saturday statement, shifted responsibility to the incoming administration, reiterating there was no need for immediate action by TikTok or other companies before Trump’s presidency begins. ByteDance has not commented on the latest developments, while China’s embassy in Washington accused the U.S. of leveraging unfair state power to suppress the app.
The shutdown has prompted millions of users to seek alternatives, with many migrating to apps like China-based RedNote. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) saw an outpouring of messages lamenting TikTok’s disappearance, while rivals Meta and Snap experienced a surge in investor confidence, anticipating a windfall of new users and advertising revenue.
Amid mounting pressure, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew plans to attend the U.S. presidential inauguration, signaling the company’s intent to navigate political challenges. Meanwhile, reports of interest from high-profile investors, including Elon Musk, and merger proposals from startups like Perplexity AI, suggest a fierce race to secure TikTok’s U.S. operations, valued at an estimated $50 billion.
The shutdown marks a significant moment in the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, with implications for the digital landscape and millions of TikTok users hoping for the app’s revival.
