TikTok users in the United States were left without access to the app late Saturday following the enforcement of a nationwide ban.
The decision, upheld by the US Supreme Court, has left millions of users in limbo while ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, scrambles for a resolution.
President-elect Donald Trump, who attributes part of his political success to the app’s younger audience, has promised to work on a solution upon taking office.
Speaking with NBC News, Trump hinted at a potential 90-day reprieve to facilitate negotiations, pending his inauguration on Monday.
The Supreme Court’s ruling follows months of legal disputes over national security concerns tied to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
The court has demanded a complete divestiture of TikTok’s US operations by ByteDance unless an alternative solution is reached.
In the meantime, major tech players like Apple and Google have been directed to remove TikTok from their app stores, with penalties looming for non-compliance.
Oracle, which currently hosts TikTok’s US servers, must also enforce the ban.
While the situation unfolds, competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are poised to benefit, with thousands of TikTok users migrating to alternative platforms like Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app similar to Instagram, now trending in the US App Store.
As negotiations progress, TikTok’s CEO has expressed optimism, thanking Trump for his willingness to work toward a solution. However, legal experts warn that any executive action could face significant challenges in the courts.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as it unfolds in the coming days.
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