The U.S. implemented a nationwide ban on TikTok, preventing internet providers and app stores from offering the app. Despite reports suggesting a gradual phase-out, TikTok shut down on its own late Saturday, hours before the ban took effect. A pop-up notification informed users that the app was unavailable due to the ban but hinted at potential reinstatement under President-elect Donald Trump.
The ban followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision after a legislative mandate required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations over national security concerns. However, the divestment deadline was missed, making the app inaccessible to its 170 million U.S. users.
On January 18, Trump announced he might suspend the ban for 90 days, extending the deadline for a U.S. entity to purchase the app. If implemented, the new deadline would be April 19, 2025. Although Trump had previously supported the ban, he now seeks a political resolution to keep TikTok in the U.S.
Concerns over TikTok’s potential use by the Chinese government to collect sensitive data on U.S. users led Congress to pass a law mandating ByteDance’s divestment by January 19, 2025, or face the ban. TikTok denies these allegations.