TikTok has officially been banned in the US
TikTok has officially been banned in the US, leaving millions of users unable to access the app as of Saturday night. When users tried to open TikTok, they were greeted with a message explaining that a law banning the app had gone into effect, saying, “You can’t use TikTok for now.”
Meenu Rapria 
The ban was introduced over concerns about TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The app was given until January 19 to sell its US operations to an approved buyer, but that deadline passed without a deal.
President Joe Biden had previously said he would leave the matter to his successor, Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday. Trump has hinted at giving TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a ban, calling it a “likely” decision that he may announce after his inauguration.
For now, TikTok is unavailable. It has been removed from Apple and Google’s app stores in the US, and its website no longer shows videos. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has appealed to Trump for a solution and thanked him for his willingness to work with the company. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
The US Supreme Court upheld the ban last year, saying TikTok could only remain in the country if ByteDance sold the app to a US-based company. TikTok argued this decision violated free speech rights for its 170 million users in the US.
As the app went offline, TikTok creators shared emotional goodbye videos with their followers. Many, like Nicole Bloomgarden, expressed concerns about losing income, while others, like Erika Thompson, worried about the loss of educational content that had become a staple for the community.
TikTok’s message to users promised they are working to bring the app back to the US as soon as possible. Until then, it marks the first time the US has banned a major social media platform.
