Several other Bytedance apps, such as CapCut, Lemon8, and Gauth, experienced similar issues and became unavailable to numerous U.S. users on Saturday evening. The shutdown of TikTok comes after a period of uncertainty, with a looming ban set to take effect in the United States on Sunday. In April, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese entity to avoid a ban. The Supreme Court upheld this law on Friday, paving the way for the potential shutdown of the app in the U.S.
However, the Biden administration announced on Friday that they would leave the enforcement of the law up to the previous administration led by Trump. This decision created ambiguity regarding whether TikTok would be accessible to Americans or face restrictions. Lawmakers from both political parties have raised concerns about TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company, citing potential national security threats and data privacy issues. In response, TikTok has defended its safety measures and framed the looming ban as an issue of free speech and censorship.
The future of the app remains uncertain, with President-elect Donald Trump hinting at a possible 90-day extension for ByteDance to sell TikTok before facing a ban in the U.S. Trump’s stance on TikTok has evolved over time, from initially wanting to ban the app to later expressing support and even creating his own TikTok account during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump’s administration is divided on the issue, with differing opinions on Chinese influence over the app and the protection of free speech.
TikTok users have expressed sadness over the potential loss of the app, sharing memories and encouraging followers to connect on other platforms. The possibility of TikTok being saved through a sale to an American owner remains, but the final decision is pending further review.
A new social media platform named RedNote has emerged as a form of protest against the government. However, experts interviewed by NBC News have raised concerns, suggesting that RedNote may present a more significant security risk compared to TikTok.
