TikTok has officially become unavailable to U.S. users as of Sunday, just before the ban on the Chinese-owned app went into effect. The application was removed from the Apple and Google app stores, and users are now greeted with a warning message stating that the service is “temporarily unavailable.”
The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed a ruling on Friday that upholds a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a U.S. entity or face a ban. TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million users in the U.S.—around half of the nation’s population, especially among young people—has become one of the most widely used social media platforms.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who oversaw initial attempts to ban TikTok during his administration, stated in an NBC interview on Saturday that he is considering a 90-day delay on the ban. “It’s certainly an option we’re considering,” Trump said, emphasizing the importance of the decision. “If I decide to go ahead with it, I’ll probably announce it on Monday,” he added.
TikTok’s Chinese ownership has raised national security concerns in the U.S. for years. U.S. officials argue that TikTok poses a significant security threat, suggesting that the Chinese government could use the app to gather sensitive data on Americans, manipulate public opinion, or conduct espionage. This belief has led to legislation passed by Congress last year that mandates ByteDance either sell TikTok to an American buyer or face a nationwide ban.
ByteDance has refused to sell the app, despite interest from various potential investors. The outgoing Biden administration has stated that the law targets the app’s foreign ownership, not freedom of speech, and has allowed TikTok to continue operating without Chinese interference.
The proposed ban, driven by national security concerns, would mark a significant shift in U.S.-China relations, especially given the growing geopolitical rivalry between the two nations.
