US TikTok Ban: App Goes Dark Amidst Legal and Political Turmoil

TikTok, the popular short video-sharing platform, ceased operations for US users ahead of a federally mandated ban set to take effect. A message greeted users with the announcement, citing national security concerns as the primary reason for the ban. This development follows a US Supreme Court ruling upholding the law unless TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, agrees to sell the platform to non-Chinese buyers.

While outgoing President Joe Biden's administration refrained from intervening, incoming President Donald Trump expressed his intention to work on a 90-day extension to explore a resolution, potentially allowing TikTok to resume operations. Trump, a TikTok advocate, credited the app for engaging younger voters and hinted at an announcement following his inauguration.

ByteDance has thus far resisted a sale, with alternative proposals such as a merger with US-based Perplexity AI emerging as potential solutions. This merger, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is estimated to cost upwards of $50 billion. Other bids, including offers from Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary, further highlight the platform’s significant value.

The ban also mandates Apple, Google, and Oracle to block access to TikTok, threatening penalties for non-compliance. In the meantime, US-based competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are poised to benefit. Many users are migrating to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese app similar to Instagram, which saw a surge in downloads.

With legal and political complexities looming, TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain.