• The app’s ban in the US comes into force today (January 19)
  • It came about over concerns related to national security
  • Users have been making videos saying goodbye to the app
TikTok
TikTok logo. Credit: xOmarxMarquesx/xSOPAxImagesx

It’s official – as of today, TikTok has gone dark in the US.

Read more: Why are TikTok users flocking to RedNote and Lemon8?

The app no longer works on the phones of its 170 million US users and is also not available on Apple and Google’s official app stores anymore.

This came about as a result of a law passed in April. It ordered TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to either sell it to a new owner outside of China or face a ban. ByteDance refused to sell it, saying it was “simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally”.

There were even rumours that Elon Musk could buy it, but TikTok dismissed them as “pure fiction”.

Despite fighting the law in the Supreme Court, arguing its ban presented a threat to free speech, TikTok’s appeal was overturned.

TikTok now displays the following message: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. 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.”

TikTok users have since turned to the Chinese app RedNote, which has seen its downloads soar as the ban got closer.

TikTok users say goodbye

In the days leading up to the app going dark, many shared TikToks saying goodbye to the app. Some shared what they learned from the app, especially when it comes to useful life hacks.

Now that TikTok has stopped working, there have been memes aplenty on other social media platforms.

TikTok users elsewhere in the world have also made light of the situation.

Could TikTok be saved?

TikTok is set to be banned on 19 January 2025
TikTok is set to be banned on 19 January 2025 Credit: Imago

There could be hope for the app when Trump takes office.

Although, ironically, Trump was the architect of the ban, he has since made a U-turn by saying he didn’t want to see TikTok banned. This is because he has been able to corrall favour from voters on there.

After his inauguration, Trump may order the justice department not to enforce the bill, but he has also said the Supreme Court’s decision should be “respected”.

However, he said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban once he returns to the White House.

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Emma Wilkes
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