TikTok Goes Dark Following U.S. Ban, Hopes for Resolution Under Trump

TikTok users in the U.S. found the app inaccessible after the official government ban took effect on Sunday. A pop-up message on the app informed users that TikTok was no longer available, attributing the ban to a recently enacted law. The message expressed optimism that President-elect Donald Trump would work on reinstating the app once in office.

The ban, enforced starting Sunday, led to TikTok’s removal from U.S. app stores, preventing new downloads. Other ByteDance apps like CapCut, Lemon8, and Gauth also displayed similar messages and became unavailable to U.S. users.

On Saturday, Trump suggested he might grant a legally permitted 90-day extension to TikTok to avoid the ban after he takes office. However, this would not prevent the app from going offline as the law mandated immediate enforcement. The Supreme Court upheld the ban, which required TikTok’s sale to a non-Chinese entity due to national security concerns over Chinese ownership.

TikTok, with 170 million U.S. users, has argued that the ban is a censorship issue and insists the app is safe. The Biden administration has indicated it would not enforce the ban, but TikTok has remained cautious, seeking definitive assurances against legal repercussions.

As discussions about a potential American buyer continue, TikTok users await further updates on the app’s future.