TikTok went dark for American users in an unprecedented display of the U.S.-China divide over technology and national security.
The app started halting service Saturday night for 170 million users in its most important market shortly before a law took effect requiring it to shed its Chinese ownership or close in the U.S. It marked the first time the U.S. government has compelled the closure of such a widely used app, and disrupted millions of American businesses and social-media entrepreneurs who use TikTok to connect with customers and fans.
TikTok users started seeing a message late Saturday saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. 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!” There is an option under the message to get more information, and clicking brings users to a link to download their data. The app wasn’t available to download from Apple or Google’s app stores.
TikTok’s disappearance could be brief, however. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday said he would likely give TikTok a 90-day extension from the potential ban after he takes office Monday. On Sunday morning, Trump posted on social media in all capital letters, “SAVE TIKTOK!”
TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew is scheduled to attend Trump’s inauguration, along with U.S. tech luminaries incl…
Read more@RatifiedMiaLibertarian1mo1MO
How much evidence do people need of the real reason the TikTok ban -- after Oct. 7 -- finally got enough votes from both the GOP and Dems, and the key support of the Biden WH, after being dormant in DC for years?
They all explicitly admitted it!!
"Now, critics allege that TikTok is using its influence to push content that is pro-Palestinian and contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. The claims about TikTok’s promotion of pro-Palestinian content are anecdotal, and they have been bubbling up on the social media platform X, in statements to the media and on conservative media outlets such as Fox News. "
Whether or not you’re correct, TikTok is LITERALLY a Chinese state cyber weapon to destroy American youths. WTF are doing here people?
@RatifiedMiaLibertarian1mo1MO
so why are we banning a little app but fine with google and apple who have massive data centers in china ?? this is an attack on ppls 1st amendment and free speech rights stop being so brainwashed
@B2HDTT44wks4W
you know what else is massive😏LOW TAPER FADE! lol
@MAGA_Deplorable4wks4W
You're either lying or totally ignorant. 60% of TikTok's shares are owned by global investors, 20% by its employees, including thousands of Americans, and just 20% by its co-founders. All of its data is stored in America by an American company supervised and managed by Americans.
This was as frontal an assault on free speech as it gets. The proposed TikTok ban lingered in DC since 2020 without nearly enough votes.
It only got a majority after the ADL said it must be banned to stop young people from being turned against Israel:
@VoleKenRepublican1mo1MO
It is about doing the right thing and it’s also about winning the hearts and minds of 170 million Americans, who will be the main voters for decades to come. It will be a good start for the Trump administration to the rest of the world.
No guy it's about keeping AMERICANS SAFE from the communist Chinese government that wants to spread misinformation and influence future elections using their app. Banning this company IS the right thing and CLEARLY the POS Trump is now being PAID by CHINA to say otherwise.
Evidence that tiktok is any threat to US citizens is about as plentiful as evidence that Saddam Hussein had WMD.
Just to be clear, he didn't, and it isn't.
Trump fighting harder to save a Chinese company than he did to save our jobs in 2020
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.