TikTok has hinted that its newly instated ban in the US could only be temporary in its message to US users last night (January 18).
Millions across the States who tried to access their TikTok feeds have been met with the same error message today, but some believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Why is TikTok being banned in the US?
A federal law that was signed by President Joe Biden last year required TikTok‘s parent company ByteDance to divest its stake in TikTok’s US platform or face a ban.
ByteDance had nine months to sell the US operation to an approved buyer ahead of today’s deadline (January 19), but the Chinese company failed to meet the requirements in time.
With this in mind, the app has now gone dark for its 170,000,000 American users.
TikTok officially goes dark
For those who have tried to access TikTok since the ban was enforced, they will have been met with a message.
In such message, it seems that TikTok is somewhat optimistic that the US ban won’t be forever.
“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” the notice begins.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
It continued: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
So, could TikTok be saved?
It’s expected that Trump will give the company a 90-day extension after he’s sworn into office tomorrow (January 20).
Speaking to NBC News in the run up to his inauguration, the 78-year-old said: “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate.
“You know, it’s appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It’s a very big situation.”
While TikTok has indeed become unavailable to US users, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested in the days running up to ByteDance’s January 19 deadline it would only go dark as a ‘stunt’.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” she said yesterday, as per BBC News.
“We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.”
But the app has gone ahead with its plans to go dark.
The company claims to have asked the Biden Administration for a ‘definitive statement’ saying that it would not enforce the law or try to fine app store operators if they do not stop making TikTok available today, but the White House did not do this.
