TikTok has gone offline across the United States just hours before a federal ban on the platform was set to take effect.
A message displayed to US-based users stated:
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted, and as a result, you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The app’s notice also expressed optimism, referencing former President Donald Trump’s assurance of working on a solution to reinstate the platform once he assumes office again on Monday.
This development follows TikTok’s earlier warning that the app would “go dark” unless the outgoing Biden administration provided guarantees that the ban would not be implemented. President-elect Trump has indicated his willingness to issue a 90-day reprieve for TikTok after taking office, saying:
“The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it’s appropriate. If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
As of Saturday evening, TikTok was no longer available on Apple and Google’s US app stores, and its website, TikTok.com, was not displaying videos.
The ban stems from a law passed in April 2024 requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership of the platform by January 19, 2025. On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the law, leaving ByteDance with no legal options to avert the ban.
TikTok has argued that the law infringes on free speech rights, impacting its 170 million US users. Following the ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appealed to President-elect Trump, thanking him for his willingness to work toward a resolution. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
Content creators across the platform posted farewell messages before TikTok’s shutdown, expressing concerns over the impact on their livelihoods and communities.
- Nicole Bloomgarden, a creator, noted that the ban would significantly reduce her income.
- Erika Thompson, another user, lamented the loss of educational content that TikTok had made widely accessible.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated that any action would now depend on the incoming Trump administration:
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”
TikTok’s ban raises questions about whether similar measures could be implemented in other countries, including the UK. For now, the app’s future in the US hangs in the balance, awaiting potential intervention by the new administration.