TikTok's U.S. ban arrived earlier than expected, logging users out abruptly on Saturday night before midnight ET. See how users are reacting to the sudden shutdown.
Millions of TikTok users in the United States are no longer able to watch videos on the social media platform as a federal ban on the immensely popular app takes effect.
A TikTok ban Sunday would implicate tech giants like Google, Apple and Oracle, who risk enormous fines if they keep the app operational.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” the message read in part. The app was also unavailable on the Apple and Google Play stores, along with Lemon8 and CapCut, which are also owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance.
The nationwide ban of the popular social media platform began Sunday. Trump, who takes office Monday, has vowed to reverse it.
Even if temporary, the unprecedented shutdown of TikTok will have an impact on U.S.-China relations, domestic politics, the social-media marketplace and millions of Americans who depend on the app.
The app went dark in the U.S. on Saturday as new federal legislation mandating the platform's removal took effect.
If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that's probably because it has, at least if you're measuring via internet time.
TikTok stopped working for its 170 million American users late on Saturday before a law shutting it down on national security grounds took effect on Sunday, but a day before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump said "SAVE TIKTOK!
President-elect Donald Trump will hold a rally in Washington on Sunday, one day before his inauguration inside the Capitol rotunda. Follow for live updates on the final day of the presidential transition.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” it read. “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”