TikTok stopped working in the US before a national security-based ban; Trump may extend ban.

From Investing.com: 2025-01-19 08:40:37

TikTok stopped working for its 170 million American users ahead of a national security-based ban. President-elect Donald Trump expressed support for the app one day before his inauguration, promising a 90-day reprieve. The unprecedented shutdown impacts U.S.-China relations, social media, and millions of Americans who rely on TikTok economically and culturally.

The ban on TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, will have broad repercussions, affecting U.S.-China relations and millions of American users. Congress passed a law giving Trump’s administration authority to ban or sell other Chinese-owned apps, a move that has never been taken with a major social media platform before.

TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance, like CapCut and Lemon8, were unavailable in U.S. app stores. Trump indicated a likely 90-day extension, but it was unclear if U.S. users could still access the app. TikTok warned of going dark unless assurances were provided by the Biden administration.

Biden’s White House stated it was the incoming administration’s responsibility to take action regarding TikTok. The Chinese embassy accused the U.S. of unfair suppression tactics against the app. Users scrambled to alternatives like RedNote, with Meta and Snap seeing stock price increases as investors anticipate an influx of users and advertising dollars.

A popular VPN, NordVPN, experienced technical difficulties as users flocked to VPNs in the aftermath of TikTok’s shutdown. Concerns arose over TikTok Shop purchases and marketing firms raced to prepare contingency plans. Despite uncertainty, signs point to a potential comeback for TikTok under Trump, with possible interest from investors like Frank McCourt and Elon Musk.



Read more at Investing.com: TikTok goes dark for US users; Trump signals intervention By Reuters