TikTok Goes Offline in the United States, Will It Come Back?
Published On: January 19, 2025
TikTok, one of the world's most popular social media platforms, went offline in the United States on Saturday night, just before a federal ban took effect. The app’s shutdown affects approximately 170 million American users, leaving influencers, small businesses, and casual users unable to access its content.
Upon opening the app, users were greeted with a message explaining the ban: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.” The company added that they are working on a solution to reinstate the platform.
The shutdown follows a Supreme Court ruling on Friday that upheld a bipartisan law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app’s U.S. operations to a company based in the United States or an allied nation. Failure to comply with the divestment led to the platform’s removal from app stores and the cessation of its services.
Lawmakers on both sides have raised concerns about ByteDance’s access to vast amounts of user data, fearing it could be exploited by the Chinese government. Ironically, many TikTok users have since migrated to RedNote, a TikTok-like app primarily designed for Chinese users. This shift, which has been happening for nearly a week, has led to more American users interacting with Chinese platforms than ever before.
TikTok’s shutdown may not be permanent. President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on Monday, has signaled a willingness to work with TikTok to find a resolution. In an interview, Trump suggested he might grant a 90-day extension to delay the ban if significant progress is made toward selling TikTok’s US operations.
The blackout has left TikTok influencers and small businesses in limbo. Many relied on the platform as a primary source of income and engagement. Service providers, including Apple and Google, have also felt the impact. Both companies removed TikTok from their app stores to avoid legal repercussions. Hosting services followed suit, citing concerns over non-compliance with federal law.
ByteDance has faced mounting pressure to divest TikTok’s US operations, but potential buyers have yet to reach an agreement. Proposed solutions include bids from tech startups and investor groups, though ByteDance has resisted selling its prized algorithm.