Late on Saturday, TikTok became unavailable in the United States, vanishing from both the Apple and Google app stores.
This occurred just hours before a new law was set to take effect on Sunday, which mandates the app’s shutdown in the country, impacting its 170 million American users.
President-elect Donald Trump had earlier in the day signaled that he would likely grant TikTok a 90-day delay on the ban once he assumes office on Monday.
TikTok referenced this potential reprieve in a notice sent to its users, offering some hope that the popular app could temporarily remain operational in the U.S.
At approximately 10:45 p.m. ET (0345 GMT), TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, notified users who attempted to access the app that it was no longer functioning.
“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 addition to TikTok, other apps owned by ByteDance, including the video editing app CapCut and the lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also removed and became unavailable in U.S. app stores by late Saturday.
“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
It remained unclear whether any U.S. users could still access TikTok, but the app had stopped working for many by late Saturday. Those attempting to access it through a web application were met with a message indicating that TikTok was no longer operational.
With nearly half of all Americans using the platform, TikTok has become a powerful tool for small businesses and a key player in shaping online culture.
On Friday, the company warned that it would be unavailable in the U.S. starting Sunday unless President Joe Biden’s administration reassures companies like Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions once the ban is implemented.
The deadline stems from a law passed last year and upheld by a unanimous Supreme Court decision on Friday. The law mandates that TikTok must sever ties with its China-based parent, ByteDance, or cease operations in the U.S. to address national security concerns.
The White House confirmed on Saturday that any further actions would be left to the incoming administration to resolve.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment regarding the White House’s latest statement.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the U.S. on Friday, accusing it of leveraging unfair state power to suppress TikTok. “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” a spokesperson said.
Users seek alternatives
Amid growing uncertainty about TikTok’s future, many users—predominantly younger demographics—have begun flocking to alternatives, including the China-based app RedNote.
Meanwhile, rivals such as Meta and Snap have seen their stock prices rise this month, as investors anticipate an influx of users and advertising revenue once the TikTok ban takes effect.
“This is my new home now,” wrote one user in a RedNote post, tagged with the words “tiktokrefugee” and “sad.”
Minutes after TikTok’s U.S. shutdown, other users took to X, formerly called Twitter.
Also Read: TikTok says it will go dark in US on Sunday unless Biden intervenes
“I didn’t really think that they would cut off TikTok. Now I’m sad and I miss the friends I made there. Hoping it all comes back in just a few days,” wrote @RavenclawJedi.
As TikTok’s future hangs in the balance, marketing firms that rely heavily on the app have scrambled to develop contingency plans. One executive described the situation as a “hair on fire” moment, following months of assumptions that a solution would eventually emerge to keep TikTok operational in the U.S.
There are indications that TikTok may make a comeback under President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire for a “political resolution” to the issue. Last month, he even urged the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of the ban.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to attend the U.S. presidential inauguration and a rally with Trump on Sunday, according to a source familiar with the plans.
Meanwhile, potential suitors have shown interest in acquiring TikTok. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is one of those considering a bid, and analysts estimate TikTok’s value could reach as high as $50 billion. There have also been reports suggesting that Beijing has explored selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk, although the company has denied these claims.
In a new development, U.S. search engine startup Perplexity AI submitted a bid on Saturday to ByteDance to merge with TikTok U.S. According to a source, the merger would combine Perplexity with TikTok U.S. and other partners to form a new entity.
Privately held ByteDance is around 60% owned by institutional investors, including BlackRock and General Atlantic, while its founders and employees each own 20%. The company employs over 7,000 people in the U.S.
