TikTok has been officially banned in the U.S., effectively blocking access for users within the country. Attempts to access the app now result in a message stating, "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. 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! In the meantime, you can still download your data."
Despite a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the ban was upheld. While acknowledging TikTok's popularity and expressive function for over 170 million Americans, the court affirmed Congress's decision, citing national security concerns related to data collection practices and TikTok's ties to a foreign adversary. The court's statement emphasized that divestiture was deemed necessary to address these concerns, concluding that the ban didn't violate First Amendment rights.
TikTok expresses hope for reinstatement under President Trump's administration, following his January 18th statement to NBC News suggesting a potential 90-day delay. This delay would allow time for a U.S. or allied entity to acquire the app—a purchase that hasn't yet materialized and was a key factor in the ban. The ban's impact extends beyond TikTok itself; other apps linked to ByteDance, including CapCut, Lemon8, and even Marvel Snap, have also been affected.
