TikTok Goes Down in US Hours Before Scheduled Ban

 

TikTok went offline in the United States just hours before a law banning the platform was set to take effect. 

US users attempting to access the app were greeted with a message stating that the law had been enacted, temporarily disabling the service. The ban stemmed from concerns over TikTok's ties to its China-based parent company, ByteDance, and the potential risks to national security. ByteDance had been given a January 19 deadline to sell the platform to an approved US buyer, a condition it failed to meet.

President Joe Biden previously deferred the issue to his successor, Donald Trump, who has indicated he may grant TikTok a 90-day extension once he takes office on Monday. Trump has stated he will likely announce his decision that day. 

Meanwhile, users reported that the app had been removed from both Apple and Google's US app stores, and the TikTok website was no longer displaying videos.

In a message following the ban, TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for his willingness to work toward a solution. 

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also appealed directly to Trump, thanking him for his commitment to finding a resolution. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, underscoring the importance of the matter for the platform’s future in the US.

The US Supreme Court upheld the law, which was passed in April 2022, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban. TikTok argued that the law violated the free speech rights of its 170 million US users, but the court rejected the challenge. The platform has pledged to restore its services as quickly as possible.

Ahead of the shutdown, TikTok creators posted farewell messages to their followers. Many expressed concern about the impact of the ban, with creator Nicole Bloomgarden stating that losing TikTok would significantly cut her income.

 Erika Thompson, another user, lamented the loss of educational content on the platform, describing it as a major setback for the community.

As the ban came into effect, TikTok reassured users that it was working to resolve the situation and restore its services in the US. The uncertainty surrounding the platform’s future has left both creators and users grappling with the potential long-term implications