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TikTok stopped working for users in the United States on Saturday, just ahead of a federal ban on the popular short-video app. The move cut off access to a platform that had captivated nearly half of all Americans, fueled small businesses, and played a major role in shaping online culture.
The shutdown came after US President-elect Donald Trump suggested on Saturday that he would likely grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the impending ban once he assumes office on Monday. This raised hopes for users and businesses that rely on the app for promotion and engagement.
As the deadline for the ban approached, TikTok users in the US were greeted with a message explaining the situation: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”
Trump had earlier told NBC that a 90-day extension for TikTok was likely, calling it an “appropriate” step. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” he added.
On Friday, TikTok had announced that it would go dark in the US on Sunday unless President Joe Biden’s administration reassured companies like Apple and Google that they wouldn’t face enforcement actions when the ban is implemented.
The ban would come as part of ongoing concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership and potential national security risks. However, the app remains hugely popular in the US, with over 170 million users, many of whom depend on it for content creation and business promotion. The uncertainty around its future has left users and businesses anxiously awaiting the next developments.
