TikTok goes dark in the US

TikTok has gone dark in the US, thanks to a federal law that bans short videos popular with millions of Americans – for now.

TikTok users began receiving the ban notice around 10:30 p.m. Eastern Saturday evening, and the app also disappeared from the Apple and Google Play stores. As of Sunday morning, some users in the US could still access TikTok online.

“Sorry, TikTok is not available now,” the company’s message reads. “The law banning TikTok has been implemented in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok right now.”

The message also suggests that this may be a temporary blackout. TikTok has praised President-elect Donald Trump for indicating that he will “work with us on a solution to TikTok once he takes office,” and users are encouraged to “stay alert!”

The company warned earlier this week that the end of the program is imminent, say friday is “black” Unless President Joe Biden’s administration says “certainly” it will not enforce the ban.

Bipartisan majority in House and Senate issued an order last April requiring TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the app or see it banned in the United States over concerns about Chinese censorship and fake news. Biden quickly signed the bill. And when trying forcing ByteDance to leave going back to the first Trump administration, it has taken a different tone recently. Trumpet asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban and he said he would “unfailing” extend the company 90 days.

The Supreme Court ruled to follow the law on Friday; and the Biden administration seemed to want it leaving the future of the program in the hands of the next president. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the law was in effect shortly before it was signed into law on Monday, adding that “implementation of the law should fall to the next Administration.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a similar statement that “the next phase of the process – implementing and ensuring that the law takes effect on January 19 – will be a process that will take place over time.”

TikTok, however, said that this was not a sufficient guarantee that “essential service providers” would continue to register or host the program in the United States unless the Biden administration made the aforementioned “confirmation”. Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s response “absurd” and said “there is no reason for TikTok or other companies to take action in the coming days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.”

Stunt or not, TikTok is gone.

As for the program’s long-term prospects, Trump said he wanted to “negotiate” which would include a sale or other approval from ByteDance, which has repeatedly said it does not want to sell now. seems optimistic about his prospects under Trump.

Trumpet he repeated to NBC News Saturday that they “might” give TikTok a 90-day grace period when the ban goes into effect on Monday.

“I think, that would be an option that we’re looking at. A 90-day extension is something that can be done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look carefully. It’s a very serious problem,” Trump told the site.

Sunday morning, he wrote that he would issue an executive order On Monday he delayed the ban, and also expressed interest in “an agreement between the current owners and/or new owners where the US will get 50% ownership.”

Many buyers have thrown their hats in the ring, hoping to capture the 170 million users of TikTok, from billionaire Frank McCourt. creating “people’s needs” to Perplexity AI wants integration.

There was even a report that the Chinese government was considering sales to Elon Musk as part of a broader alliance with the Trump administration. A TikTok spokesperson called the report “fantasy.”

Meanwhile, some Chinese apps like RedNote and Lemon8 have it he received encouragement as TikTok users search for alternatives. However, Lemon8 – which is also owned by ByteDance – is in the middle some programs that are now banned.

This post has been updated to reflect Trump’s comments on Sunday morning, as well as additional programs that have been banned by law.