TikTok ceases functioning as US ban takes effect
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| TikTok Ban in the USA |
A new US law banning TikTok has come into effect, following hours after the popular app ceased to function across the nation.
Late on Saturday, a message appeared on TikTok for US users stating that the law banning TikTok had been implemented, meaning "you can't use TikTok for now."
The video-sharing app was banned due to concerns about its connections to the Chinese government. It had until January 19 to be sold to an approved US buyer to avoid the ban.
President Joe Biden had said he would leave the matter to his successor, Donald Trump. The president-elect mentioned he would "likely" grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban once he takes office on Monday.
"The 90-day extension is something that will most likely happen, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC News on Saturday.
"If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."
Users reported that the app had been removed from both Apple and Google’s US app stores and TikTok.com was no longer showing videos, in line with the terms of the ban.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” a message displayed by the app said.
Could TikTok ever be banned in the UK as well? This is the first time the US has banned a major social media platform.
On Friday, the US Supreme Court upheld a law passed in April last year, banning the app in the US unless its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, sold the platform by Sunday, which it did not do.
TikTok has argued that the law violates free speech protections for its 170 million users in the country.
Following the ruling, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, appealed to Trump, thanking him for his "commitment to work with us to find a solution."
Mr. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
In the hours before the social media platform went offline, content creators were posting farewell videos for their followers.
Creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that not being on TikTok would result in a significant salary cut.
Another user, Erika Thompson, said the educational content on the platform would be the "biggest loss" for the community.
TikTok users saw a message earlier on Saturday saying that the law would "force us to make our services temporarily unavailable. We're working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible."
In contrast, a government minister informed the BBC on Sunday that the UK has no plans to follow the US in banning TikTok.
"We won’t be taking the same approach as the Americans unless or until... there is a threat that raises concern for British interests, and if that happens, we will of course keep it under review," said Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones.
The app was banned from UK Parliament and government devices in 2023 due to security concerns.
However, Jones stated on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that "for consumers who want to post videos of their cats dancing, that doesn't seem like a security threat to me."
