It occurred — TikTok went down for American customers and is formally banned within the United States due to 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 within the United States seen they might not load buddies’ movies or publish new clips on Saturday, January 18. As Americans frantically attempt to determine learn how to use the app amid the ban, many additionally wish 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. However, he’s but to verify 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. Unfortunately, meaning you’ll be able to’t use TikTok for now. We are 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! In the meantime, you’ll be able to nonetheless log in to obtain your information.”
Do I Have to Delete My TikTok?
Currently, American customers are usually not required to delete their TikTok accounts, and the platform gave everybody the power to obtain and save their posted movies.
Is TikTok Coming Back?
It’s unclear if TikTok might come again for Americans, however because the platform indicated in its shutdown assertion, an obvious “answer” between them and Trump might happen “as soon as he takes workplace,” which might be on Monday, January 20, 2025.
How 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. Users are additionally complaining that they can not load saved or reposted movies. Currently, Americans can merely entry their profile pages and up to date posts made by buddies and accounts they comply with.
It’s nonetheless unclear how folks within the U.S. can navigate TikTok until they’ve a digital non-public community (VPN). Having a VPN might doubtlessly give a smartphone person the power to cover their IP tackle, which discloses an individual’s location. However, a VPN most probably can’t repair the TikTok challenge endlessly.
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 anxious that China’s authorities might entry customers’ information by way of the social media app and use it to unfold misinformation around the globe.
TikTok is owned by the Chinese 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 upheld the legalization weeks earlier than the ban occurred in January 2025.