TikTok Ban in the US: What You Need to Know

TikTok Briefly Unavailable in the U.S. Due to New Legislation

The popular short-form video platform, TikTok, experienced a service disruption in the United States on Saturday evening. This outage stemmed from a recently enacted federal law imposing a ban on the application for a substantial number of American users. Service restoration commenced by Sunday midday, however.

Initial Disruption and User Notifications

Beginning around 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, TikTok users began receiving notifications regarding the ban. Simultaneously, the application was removed from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Despite this, some U.S. users were still able to access TikTok through its web-based interface as of Sunday morning.

The company’s in-app message stated, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” It further explained that a law prohibiting TikTok’s operation had been implemented within the U.S., resulting in temporary inaccessibility for users.

Hope for Reinstatement and Trump's Involvement

The message also hinted at the possibility of a limited duration for the ban. TikTok referenced statements made by President-elect Donald Trump, indicating his willingness to collaborate on a resolution to reinstate the platform upon assuming office. Users were encouraged to remain informed for further updates.

Imminent Disappearance Forewarned

Earlier in the week, the company had cautioned that the app’s removal was imminent. On Friday, TikTok stated it would “go dark” unless the Biden administration provided a clear indication that the ban would not be enforced.

Legislative Background and Concerns

Last April, both the House and Senate approved legislation requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to either divest the app or face a ban within the United States. This action was driven by anxieties surrounding potential Chinese surveillance and the dissemination of propaganda. President Biden promptly signed the bill into law.

While initial efforts to compel ByteDance to sell the app originated during the Trump administration, the former president has recently adopted a different stance. He requested the Supreme Court to postpone the ban and indicated he would “most likely” grant the company a 90-day extension.

Supreme Court Ruling and Administrative Transition

The Supreme Court issued a ruling on Friday upholding the legality of the law. The Biden administration appeared prepared to defer the app’s fate to the incoming administration. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed out that, with the law taking effect before Trump’s inauguration on Monday, “actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration.”

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco echoed this sentiment, stating that the subsequent phase of implementation and compliance would unfold over time.

TikTok's Response and White House Criticism

TikTok, however, argued that this was insufficient reassurance for “critical service providers” to continue supporting the app unless the Biden administration issued a “definitive statement.” Jean-Pierre characterized TikTok’s response as “a stunt,” asserting that there was “no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”

Future Prospects and Potential Sale

Regarding the app’s long-term viability, Trump has expressed his intention to “negotiate a resolution,” potentially involving a sale or other concessions from ByteDance. ByteDance has consistently stated its disinterest in selling, yet remains optimistic about its prospects under a Trump administration.

Trump reiterated to NBC News on Saturday that he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve once in office on Monday.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump stated.

Trump's Proposed Solutions

On Sunday morning, Trump announced his intention to issue an executive order delaying the ban on Monday. He also voiced interest in a “joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership.”

Potential Buyers Emerge

Numerous parties have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok and its 170 million users. These include billionaire Frank McCourt, who proposed a “people’s bid,” and Perplexity AI, which suggested a merger.

Reports even surfaced suggesting the Chinese government was considering a sale to Elon Musk as part of a broader agreement with the Trump administration. A TikTok spokesperson dismissed this report as “pure fiction.”

Rise of Alternative Platforms

In the interim, alternative Chinese-owned applications like RedNote and Lemon8 have experienced increased usage as TikTok users seek alternatives. However, Lemon8 – also owned by ByteDance – is now among the apps that have been blocked.

This post has been updated to reflect the restoration of TikTok service. It was previously updated to include Trump’s statements on Sunday morning, as well as information regarding additional apps impacted by the ban.