The TikTok app has officially stopped functioning in the United States after being removed from the App Store and Google Play late Saturday night, just ahead of the January 19 deadline for the federal ban.
Users who had already installed the app are now greeted with a pop-up message stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” alongside an explanation referencing a new law banning the app in the U.S., according to The Times Post’s sister publication in the U.S., SurgeZirc.
The ban follows the enactment of the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Apps Act,” signed by President Biden, which required TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance within six months.
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TikTok’s parent company fought the measure in court, arguing it violated First Amendment rights, but the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the app. ByteDance’s video editing tool, CapCut, has also been removed from U.S. app marketplaces.
TikTok has expressed disappointment in the lack of governmental clarity, stating that service providers vital to operationalizing the app for over 170 million U.S. users were left without assurances.
The White House clarified that enforcement of the ban was delayed during President Biden’s final hours in office but ultimately proceeded as planned.
President-elect Donald Trump, a strong supporter of banning TikTok during his first term, hinted at offering a possible 90-day extension for the app after his second inauguration. If granted, it remains uncertain how TikTok will address national security concerns to maintain its U.S. presence.
Companies like Perplexity AI and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially offering a path to survival. However, the app’s future hangs in the balance as the political and legal battles continue.
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