International/ Gadget Desk
19 January
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist
TikTok Banned in the US
TikTok, the widely popular social media app, has been officially banned in the United States. The app was removed from major app stores on Saturday night, just hours before a new federal law prohibiting TikTok went into effect.
Removal from App Stores
As of 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, TikTok was no longer available for download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The law prohibits companies like Apple and Google from hosting TikTok on their platforms.
Reason Behind the Ban
The ban stems from concerns over TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese company. The law requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-based company or face a nationwide ban.
Message to TikTok Users
When users opened the app on Saturday evening, they were greeted with a pop-up message. It read, “A law has been passed to ban TikTok in the US. This means that unfortunately you will no longer be able to use TikTok.”
Hopes for Restoration
The message from TikTok also mentioned former President Donald Trump. It stated, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us to restore TikTok after he takes office.”
Trump’s Statement
In a separate interview with NBC News, Trump said he is considering giving TikTok additional time to operate. He mentioned he would explore options to keep the platform accessible to US users for a while longer.
Uncertain Future
The ban leaves TikTok’s future in the US uncertain. Many users expressed sadness on social media, while others remain hopeful that negotiations will bring the app back.