It occurred — TikTok went down for American customers and is formally banned in the US due to a regulation that the federal government handed final 12 months. Roughly two hours earlier than the Sunday, January 19, 2025, ban was set to take impact, TikTok customers positioned in the US observed they might not load mates’ movies or put up new clips on Saturday, January 18. As Individuals frantically attempt to determine 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. Nonetheless, 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 observed 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 out there proper now. A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the U.S. Sadly, meaning you may’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 may nonetheless log in to obtain your information.”
Do I Need to Delete My TikTok?
At present, American customers usually are not required to delete their TikTok accounts, and the platform gave everybody the flexibility 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 “answer” between them and Trump may happen “as soon as he takes workplace,” which might be on Monday, January 20, 2025.
How you can Use TikTok After the Ban
As of now, anybody positioned 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 present, Individuals can merely entry their profile pages and up to date posts made by mates and accounts they observe.
It’s nonetheless unclear how individuals within the U.S. can navigate TikTok until they’ve a digital personal community (VPN). Having a VPN may doubtlessly give a smartphone consumer the flexibility to cover their IP handle, which discloses an individual’s location. Nonetheless, a VPN more than likely can’t repair the TikTok challenge perpetually.
Why Was TikTok Banned within the U.S.?
TikTok was banned within the U.S. as a result of the federal government raised issues about its safety. Lawmakers in America are anxious that China’s authorities may entry customers’ information via the social media app and use it to unfold misinformation world wide.
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 Courtroom upheld the legalization weeks earlier than the ban occurred in January 2025.
