TikTok has suspended its operations in the United States and disappeared from major app stores following the Supreme Court's approval of legislation requiring the platform to break ties with ByteDance, its Chinese parent company.
The popular video-sharing app, which serves 170 million US users, stopped working late Saturday night. Users attempting to access the platform were greeted with a notification stating: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now."
Both Apple and Google have removed TikTok from their respective app stores to comply with the new law. Under the legislation, app stores and internet hosting providers could face penalties of up to $5,000 per user if they continue offering TikTok after the divestment deadline.
The shutdown comes after Congress passed the TikTok bill in April 2024, which President Joe Biden signed into law. Biden's administration, which ends Monday, opted not to enforce the ban, leaving the matter to incoming President Donald Trump's administration.
Trump has indicated he may offer TikTok a 90-day extension once he takes office. "The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC, suggesting he might announce the decision on Monday.
The Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the US action, calling it an unfair use of state power to suppress TikTok. Meanwhile, TikTok users have begun migrating to alternative platforms, including China-based RedNote, while social media competitors Meta and Snap have seen their stock prices rise in anticipation of potential user influx.
Marketing firms dependent on TikTok have scrambled to develop backup plans, while potential buyers have emerged for TikTok's US operations. The company's uncertain future continues to spark discussions about national security concerns and international technology regulations.