It occurred — TikTok went down for American customers and is formally banned in the US because of a regulation that the federal government handed final yr. Roughly two hours earlier than the Sunday, January 19, 2025, ban was set to take impact, TikTok customers situated in the US seen they may not load buddies’ movies or publish new clips on Saturday, January 18. As Individuals frantically attempt to determine easy methods to use the app amid the ban, many additionally need to know if TikTok is coming again.
Donald Trump indicated that he was inclined to institute a 90-day extension to the ban when he’s sworn in as president once more. Nevertheless, he’s but to substantiate whether or not or not the extension is particular.
Is TikTok Banned?
Apparently, sure. TikTok is formally banned within the U.S., as American customers seen at round 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 18, 2025. When logging into an account, TikTok customers noticed the next discover pop up: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t obtainable proper now. A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the U.S. Sadly, which means you possibly can’t use TikTok for now. We’re lucky that President Trump has indicated that he’ll work with us on an answer to reinstate TikTok as soon as he takes workplace. Please keep tuned! Within the meantime, you possibly can nonetheless log in to obtain your knowledge.”
Do I Should Delete My TikTok?
At the moment, American customers should not required to delete their TikTok accounts, and the platform gave everybody the power to obtain and save their posted movies.
Is TikTok Coming Again?
It’s unclear if TikTok may come again for Individuals, however because the platform indicated in its shutdown assertion, an obvious “resolution” between them and Trump may happen “as soon as he takes workplace,” which might be on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Methods to Use TikTok After the Ban
As of now, anybody situated within the U.S. can entry their very own posts however are unable to load new posts. Customers are additionally complaining that they can’t load saved or reposted movies. At the moment, Individuals can merely entry their profile pages and up to date posts made by buddies and accounts they observe.
It’s nonetheless unclear how individuals within the U.S. can navigate TikTok until they’ve a digital non-public community (VPN). Having a VPN may doubtlessly give a smartphone consumer the power to cover their IP handle, which discloses an individual’s location. Nevertheless, a VPN almost certainly can’t repair the TikTok subject ceaselessly.
Why Was TikTok Banned within the U.S.?
TikTok was banned within the U.S. as a result of the federal government raised considerations about its safety. Lawmakers in America are frightened that China’s authorities may entry customers’ knowledge by means of the social media app and use it to unfold misinformation all over the world.
TikTok is owned by the Chinese language firm ByteDance, and Congress gave them an ultimatum: both promote the app to a U.S. government-approved firm or the app could be banned in America. In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed the laws into regulation, and the Supreme Court docket upheld the legalization weeks earlier than the ban occurred in January 2025.
