TikTok went offline in the US just hours before a law banning the platform was set to be implemented. US users were greeted with a message stating that a law banning TikTok had been enacted, temporarily preventing access to the app. The platform faced the ban due to concerns over its ties to the Chinese government and was given until January 19 to be sold to an approved US buyer. President Joe Biden had deferred the decision to his successor, Donald Trump. Trump indicated he would "most likely" grant a 90-day extension before enforcing the ban after his inauguration on Monday.
"The 90-day extension is likely to be granted because it makes sense," Trump told NBC News on Saturday. "If I decide to do so, an announcement will probably be made on Monday."
Users reported that the app was also removed from Apple and Google’s US app stores, and TikTok.com no longer displayed videos.
"We are grateful that President Trump has shown willingness to work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok after he assumes office," read the message displayed following the ban.
The Supreme Court upheld the law, passed in April last year, which required TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform by Sunday. ByteDance has not complied.
TikTok argued that the law infringes on free speech rights for its 170 million US users.
After the ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appealed to Trump, expressing gratitude for his "commitment to finding a solution." Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
In the lead-up to the shutdown, content creators posted farewell videos. Creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that losing TikTok would significantly impact her income. Another user, Erika Thompson, noted that the loss of educational content would be the greatest blow to the community.
Earlier on Saturday, TikTok users saw a message explaining that the law would "temporarily suspend our services. We are working to restore service in the US as quickly as possible."
