The U.S. Bans TikTok Over Security Concerns; App Halts Operations Nationwide

A new law banning TikTok in the United States on national security grounds has come into effect, forcing the Chinese social media platform to suspend its operations in the country until the ban is lifted.

Users attempting to access the app are now greeted with the message, "TikTok is unavailable."

An in-app notification from TikTok states: "The United States has passed a law banning TikTok. Unfortunately, this means you can no longer use TikTok at this time. We appreciate President Trump's commitment to finding a solution to restore TikTok after his inauguration. Please stay tuned for updates."

The bill, passed by Congress in April 2024, requires ByteDance, TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, to sell the platform to an American company by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.

Outgoing officials raised concerns that TikTok could enable the Chinese government to collect data on U.S. citizens and influence public opinion. ByteDance has consistently denied any ties to the Chinese authorities.

President-elect Donald Trump, set to return to office on January 20, signaled his intent to grant TikTok a 90-day extension. "I will likely extend it for 90 days. You've already gotten an extension, as you probably know. We'll figure something out," Trump told ABC News.

In December, Trump urged courts to delay a ruling on the ban, stating on TruthSocial that he was seeking a "political solution" to the issue. The White House confirmed that enforcing the law would fall to Trump after his inauguration.

During Supreme Court hearings on January 10, TikTok’s legal representatives argued that the ban violates the free speech rights of over 170 million U.S. users, who spent an average of 51 minutes daily on the app in 2024.

Reports of potential buyers have emerged amid ByteDance's resistance to selling parts of the platform. Bloomberg reported that billionaire Elon Musk was floated as a possible buyer, though TikTok dismissed the claim as "pure fiction." Other interested parties include former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt.

Despite opposition from CEO Shou Zi Chew to a sale, legal and regulatory pressures have mounted. Meanwhile, some users have turned to VPNs to bypass the ban, though experts warn this could violate user agreements.

The TikTok ban aligns with similar actions in countries like India, where the platform faced a complete block, and the United Kingdom, where it is prohibited on government devices.

While TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, its broad influence and user engagement continue to make it a focal point in geopolitical and tech industry debates.