The short video-sharing platform TikTok ceased its operations in the United States late Saturday night, disappearing from both Apple and Google’s app stores. This decision comes into effect following a newly enacted law implemented on Sunday, officially suspending the operations of the China-based ByteDance-owned platform in a country with 170 million users, reports Reuters.
In response, TikTok informed its users that President Donald Trump, who assumed office on Monday, has pledged to lift the ban within 90 days.
In a statement, TikTok said, “The law banning TikTok in the United States has taken effect. As a result, the app is currently unavailable. However, we are fortunate that President Trump has promised to assist in resolving this issue.”
Although temporary, the ban has significantly impacted U.S.-China relations, American domestic politics, and the competitive landscape of social media platforms.
