TikTok Goes Dark in the U.S. Following Federal Ban Over National Security Concerns

Popular video-sharing platform TikTok has officially ceased operations in the United States following the enforcement of a federal ban on January 19, 2025.

"We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok has taken effect, making our services temporarily unavailable," the company announced in a pop-up notification. "We are working to restore access in the U.S. as soon as possible and appreciate your support. Please stay tuned."

As a result of the ban, existing users are now unable to access TikTok content, and new users cannot download the app from Android or iOS app stores. Other apps from TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance—such as CapCut, Lemon8, and Gauth—have also been removed.

Supreme Court Decision Upholds Ban

The ban follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold a law mandating that ByteDance either divest TikTok or face a nationwide prohibition due to national security concerns. The law was passed in April 2024, citing risks that TikTok's algorithms and extensive data collection could be exploited by Chinese authorities.

In its ruling, the Court acknowledged TikTok’s role as a platform for expression and community engagement for over 170 million Americans. However, it concluded that divestiture was necessary to mitigate well-documented national security risks tied to the app's Chinese ownership.

"Congress has determined that divestiture addresses critical concerns about TikTok’s data practices and its potential exploitation by a foreign adversary," the decision stated.

White House and Justice Department Statements

The White House affirmed that TikTok could continue operating under American ownership or another arrangement addressing Congress's security concerns. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the decision, stating, "This ensures the Chinese government cannot weaponize TikTok to threaten U.S. national security."

Privacy Advocates React

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, arguing that banning a single social media platform does little to protect user privacy.

"Protecting Americans' data requires comprehensive privacy legislation, not targeting individual apps," the EFF said, emphasizing the dangers of limiting platforms based on concerns about propaganda and foreign manipulation.

Potential Reprieve

President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that his administration may grant TikTok a 90-day extension after his inauguration, providing more time to explore solutions that align with U.S. security requirements.

Shift in User Behavior and Lawmakers’ Concerns

The TikTok ban has inadvertently driven U.S. users to other Chinese-owned platforms, such as RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), instead of domestic alternatives like Instagram and YouTube. This trend has prompted calls from lawmakers, including Senator Mark Warner, for a broader approach to address the risks posed by foreign-owned social media apps.

ByteDance Apps Removed

Apple has published a list of ByteDance apps affected by the ban, including:

• TikTok
• TikTok Studio
• TikTok Shop Seller Center
• CapCut
• Lemon8
• Hypic
• Lark (Team Collaboration)
• Gauth: AI Study Companion
• MARVEL SNAP

The company has stated its compliance with laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.

TikTok’s Response and Limited Accessibility

Less than 24 hours after the ban, TikTok announced efforts to restore services in collaboration with its providers and credited incoming President Trump for offering clarity. "This is a strong stance for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship," TikTok shared on X (formerly Twitter).

However, lawmakers such as Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts have warned that extending the ban’s implementation would have no legal basis. They emphasized that TikTok must agree to divestiture to resume long-term operations in the U.S.

Although TikTok apps remain unavailable for download, users with pre-installed versions have reported sporadic access. Searches for "VPN" surged on Google Trends as users sought ways to bypass the restrictions.

Broader Implications of Censorship

The ban comes amid concerns about ByteDance’s influence and allegations of propaganda. Recently, ByteDance’s large language model, Doubao, faced backlash after its responses promoted Chinese state narratives while censoring topics like Tiananmen Square and the Uyghur genocide. Following the controversy, Doubao was replaced by OpenAI’s GPT-3 on the Boox e-reader platform.