TikTok is now banned in the USA (Image: TikTok)
has hit a major snag for its US followers, after a schedule ban of the popular platform came into effect two hours ahead ofschedule.
As users now log on, they are met with an abrupt announcement: “A law banning has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use for now,” followed by two options – “Learn more” and “Close app.”
In an unexpected twist, the app’s creators have acknowledged , stating, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate once he takes office. Please stay tuned! “
Tapping the “learn more” prompt redirects users to ‘s website where the statement reappears under the title “Sorry, isn’t available right now,” alongside the additional notice, “In the meantime, you can still log in to download your data.”
The unsettling alert clears the air for the 170 million Americans who were in limbo regarding the app’s continuation post-its anticipated cessation due to the ban. The service interruption started around 10 p.m. EST on Saturday, surprisingly two hours before the ban was slated to occur.
According to reports from DownDetector.com, a prominent tracker of malfunctions across numerous digital platforms and services, including , recorded a significant spike in issues following the event, reports
Reports of outages lingered at the baseline level, which hovers between 20 and 30, until around 8:30 pm EST when a modest spike of about 350 users reported difficulties accessing the app. By 10:30 pm, the number of users reporting issues had surged to over 6,300.
A significant 67% of users experienced problems with app access, while another 26% were unable to connect to the server, and roughly 7% found themselves unable to reach the app’s website.
The moment the ban took effect, users flocked to alternative social media platforms to express their sorrow over the loss of the beloved video-sharing site. “Bye , I really never wanted to download the app so I literally didn’t until I got it a month ago to watch a livestream LMAO but! goodbye to all those edits I liked to watch,” lamented one user.
Another user remarked in frustration: ” was supposed to go down tomorrow, but I guess they couldn’t wait? I’m literally unwell rn”.
A third user shared their disappointment, stating: “First Vine now those were the two best video platforms ever and now they’re gone.”
Donald Trump could potentially reverse the ban after being sworn in (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Despite the premature termination of the app sending shockwaves through the community, not all hope is dashed as President Elect has signalled a willingness to revive the platform post-inauguration. He assured his followers that he would “most likely” grant an additional 90 days to negotiate a deal after he takes the oath of office on Monday.
The rationale behind the ban was that the app posed a national security threat due to its Chinese roots, with members of Congress and other high-level government officials, including members of Biden’s administration, advocating for its ban to protect national interests.
The Biden administration had suggested it wouldn’t enforce legislation that has led to ‘s ban, but the social media giant warned it would “be forced to go dark on January 19” unless the US Government confirmed there would be no crackdown. As security concerns about Chinese influence grow in the UK, creators are bracing for a potential similar prohibition.
Already banned on government devices over cybersecurity worries, faces threats of severe penalties for mobile app stores and internet hosts in the US if they continue distributing the platform after the deadline. With a comparable UK decision potentially impacting British access, users are migrating to alternatives like , YouTube with their reels and shorts features, and Snapchat’s Spotlight.
‘s X could also entice defectors. In China, humour is exchanged on RedNote, viewed as another version of by some.