TikTok Shuts Down In U.S. As Nationwide Ban Takes Effect
TikTok has officially halted its operations in the U.S., blocking access to its app and website late Saturday night.
This move came ahead of the enforcement of a prohibition law, which takes effect on January 20.
The ban, signed into law by President Joe Biden last year, survived a legal challenge from TikTok after the Supreme Court upheld its validity.
Although the company initially planned to cease operations on Sunday, services were abruptly terminated on Saturday at around 10:30 PM EST.
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TikTok rejected all proposals to sell its U.S. operations to American investors, leading to heightened speculation about its potential ties to Chinese intelligence.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the platform announced to its American users.
“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!”
President-elect Donald Trump assured users on Saturday that he intends to grant TikTok a 90-day extension to divest its U.S. operations to American businesses after his inauguration on January 20.
The platform, which served over 170 million Americans, remains at the center of controversy regarding its ownership and data practices.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
