TikTok went dark in the US on Saturday night as a result of a federal law banning the popular short video app for millions of Americans. However, the company began restoring service on Sunday afternoon. TikTok users began receiving messages about the ban around 10:30 Eastern on Saturday evening, and the app also disappeared from the Apple and Google Play app stores. As of Sunday morning, some users in the US were still able to access TikTok via the web. “Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable,” the company said. “The law banning TikTok has been passed in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok right now.” The message also advises that this is only a temporary loss. TikTok acknowledged President-elect Donald Trump for indicating “he will work with us on solutions to restore TikTok after taking office,” with users advised to “stay tuned!” The company warned earlier this week that the app would disappear, saying on Friday that it would be “dark” unless President Joe Biden’s administration makes a “definitive statement” that it will not impose the ban. Bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate passed legislation last April that would have required TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the app or see it banned in the United States over concerns about potential Chinese surveillance and propaganda, with Biden quickly signing the bill. And while efforts to force ByteDance to divest date back to the first Trump administration, they have taken a different tone recently. Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban and said it would be the “biggest” to give companies a 90-day extension. The Supreme Court issued a ruling that upheld the law on Friday; and the Biden administration seems inclined to leave the fate of the application in the hands of the next president. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that while the law took effect before Trump’s inauguration on Monday, “action to implement the law will only have to be taken in the next Administration.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a similar statement that “the next phase of this effort – implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it takes effect on January 19 – will be a long-term process.” However, TikTok suggests this is not enough of a guarantee for “critical service providers” to continue listing or hosting apps in the United States unless the Biden administration makes that “definitive statement.” Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s response a “stunt” and said there was “no reason for TikTok or any other company to act in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday.” As for the app’s long-term prospects, Trump said he plans to “negotiate a resolution” that could include a sale or other concessions from ByteDance, which has repeatedly said it is not interested in a sale but appears optimistic about its prospects under Trump. Trump reiterated to NBC News on Saturday that he would “likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday. “I think, of course, the options that we’re looking at. A 90-day extension is the most likely to be done, because it’s appropriate. You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look carefully. It’s a very big situation,” Trump said in the outlet. On Sunday morning, he sent a message that he will issue an executive order on Monday to suspend the ban, and he also expressed interest in “a joint venture between the current owners and / or new owners in which the US acquires 50% ownership. Many potential buyers have thrown their hats at ring, hoping to take on 170 million TikTok users, from billionaire Frank McCourt to make a “people offer” to Perplexity AI is proposing a merger. There are even reports that the Chinese government is considering a sale to Elon Musk as part of the deal that’s more with the Trump administration. A TikTok spokesperson called the report “pure fiction.” In the meantime, Chinese-owned apps like RedNote and Lemon8 have gotten a boost as TikTok users look for alternatives. including other apps that are now blocked. This post has been updated to reflect that TikTok has restored service. It was previously updated to reflect Trump’s statement on Sunday morning, as well as additional apps that have been blocked by law.
TikTok goes dark in the US
