TikTok stopped working in the US on Saturday, shortly before a federal ban was set to take effect. The app was removed from Apple’s iOS App Store and Google’s Play Store due to a law mandating its sale or shutdown. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, chose not to sell the app, leading to its disappearance.
The ban has been five years in the making, with Donald Trump first proposing a ban on TikTok via executive order in 2020. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act became law in April, requiring ByteDance to sell or be banned. A US supreme court ruling earlier this week upheld the law’s constitutionality.
TikTok has defended its position, arguing that blocking the app would violate free speech rights. However, the company is now facing an uncertain future. President-elect Trump has hinted at a possible 90-day reprieve from a potential ban after he takes office on Monday.
As users defect to alternative platforms like Xiaohongshu and YouTube Shorts, it remains to be seen how TikTok will adapt to its new circumstances. With regular maintenance crucial for the app’s smooth functionality, its disappearance raises concerns about glitches and cyber-attacks.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/19/tiktok-us-ban