TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday, and disappeared from the Apple and Google app stores before the entry into force on Sunday of a law requiring the closure of the platform used by 170 million people in the country.
The elected president, donald trumpsaid “most likely” will give TikTok a 90-day extension of the ban after he takes office on Monday, a promise the company cited in a notice posted to users on the app.
“A law has been enacted prohibiting TikTok in the US,” the message notified users trying to use the app late on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned,” the statement added.
Repercussions after ban
Although temporary, the unprecedented closure of TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDancewill have broad repercussions on the relations between the United States and Chinain local politics, in the social media market, and in millions of Americans who depend economically and culturally on the app.
The United States has never banned a major social media platform. The law passed overwhelmingly in Congress gives the incoming Trump administration broad authority to ban or seek the sale of other Chinese-owned apps.
Other ByteDance-owned apps, including video editing app CapCut and social lifestyle app Lemon8, were not available in U.S. app stores late Saturday.
“The 90 day extension “It’s something that will most likely be done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC in an interview hours before the app shut down. “If I decide to do it, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
It was unclear if any users in the United States could still access the app, but it no longer worked for manyand people trying to access it through a web application They were met with the same message that TikTok was no longer working.
TikTok warned on Friday that it would stop operating in the United States on Sunday unless Joe Biden’s government offered guarantees to companies like Apple AAPL.O and Google GOOGL.O that they will not face coercive measures when the ban comes into force.
Under the law passed last year and confirmed Friday by the Supreme Court, the platform had until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent or close its U.S. operation to resolve concerns that it poses a threat. for national security.
Minutes after TikTok closed in the United States, other users flocked to X. “The truth is that I didn’t think they were going to close TikTok. Now I’m sad and I miss the friends I made there. Hoping everything will come back in a few days,” wrote @RavenclawJedi.
