BREAKING: TikTok confirms its services will be temporarily unavailable in the US pic.twitter.com/cgqMfppQ5U
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 19, 2025
By Saturday (January 18) evening, TikTok was no longer available on major app stores, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Both Apple’s App Store and Google Play had removed the platform in compliance with a federal law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a nationwide ban.
When users attempted to open TikTok, they were greeted with a pop-up message explaining the situation. The message stated, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The message also hinted at potential future developments, noting, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
President-elect Donald Trump, in an interview with NBC News, said that he was considering granting an extension that might allow TikTok to keep going beyond Sunday, the PTI reported.
Trump told NBC News that he “most likely” would give TikTok the extension after his inauguration. ByteDance previously said it would not sell, but TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a prime seating location.
The US Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law that banned TikTok unless ByteDance divested itself of its US holdings. In issuing the decision, justices rejected Trump’s request to wait until his administration could pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.
(Edited by : Priyanka Deshpande)
