TikTok shuts down in US hours ahead of ban

A day prior, TikTok issued a statement saying that the social media app would “cease service” if it did not receive official notification of a delay in the U.S. ban legislation. However, that notification did not arrive, and two hours before the U.S. East Coast time of January 19, the company shut down the app for all existing users in the United States.

The ban not only affected the reportedly 170 million U.S. TikTok users but also any TikTok user currently in the United States. Users accessing the app would see a message stating, “Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable.” Users in Australia clicking on U.S. users would also see the same message. The message also noted that changes could occur after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday.

TikTok informed users: "We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us to find a solution to restore TikTok after he takes office. Stay tuned!" Trump, in a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, stated that he would “most likely” delay the TikTok ban by 90 days after taking office on Monday, but added that he had not made a final decision. “I think it’s certainly an option to consider. A 90-day delay would likely be implemented, as it is appropriate. We need to consider it carefully, it’s a very complex situation,” Trump said in the interview. “If I decide to do it, I may announce it on Monday.”

TikTok's warning, along with the hint of a delay, is the latest twist in this months-long saga, leaving the fate of the app, which has 170 million U.S. users, in limbo. Late last Saturday, TikTok began displaying a message: "We regret that the law banning TikTok in the U.S. will take effect on January 19, forcing us to temporarily cease service." The law banning TikTok was passed last year with strong bipartisan support and signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden. Lawmakers have stated that TikTok’s ties to China and its access to large amounts of data pose a national security threat.

Many U.S. users told CNN that they were preparing for the app's end, including influencers and other small businesses that rely on the platform for their livelihoods. Nevertheless, they said they still held out hope that the app could somehow be saved. But the Supreme Court upheld the ban on Friday, dashing any last-minute hopes of judicial assistance. Late Friday, TikTok said it would go offline on Sunday unless the Biden administration intervened. Some companies that operate app stores and run computer servers said they feared they would be held liable. If TikTok ceases service, it would be because these service providers are stopping the app to avoid legal consequences.

Meanwhile, Trump, who first warned of the dangers of TikTok five years ago, is now casting himself as the app’s savior. Earlier this month, he posted statistics about his popularity on TikTok on his Truth Social account and asked, "Why would I get rid of TikTok?" In the weeks leading up to the ban, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home and is expected to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday. The law passed last year allows the president to delay the ban's effective date by 90 days, but requires evidence that significant progress is being made by parties arranging to sell TikTok to a U.S. company. But TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has rejected potential buyers. The company is fighting to stay online without changing ownership, citing its popularity among U.S. users and its value to small businesses across the country.