TikTok Is Officially Banned in the U.S. and Can No Longer Be Accessed Within Its Borders

TikTok has been officially banned in the U.S., effectively blocking access for users within the country. Attempts to open the app now result in a message stating that TikTok is unavailable due to a newly enacted law. The message also notes President Trump's previous indication of working towards a solution to reinstate the app after his inauguration, and offers users the option to download their data.

Despite a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the ban was upheld. While acknowledging TikTok's popularity and role as a platform for expression and community engagement for over 170 million Americans, the court cited Congress's determination that divestiture was necessary to address national security concerns related to data collection practices and TikTok's ties to a foreign adversary. The court concluded that the ban doesn't violate First Amendment rights.

TikTok expresses hope for reinstatement by Donald Trump after his presidency begins on January 20th, though confirmation remains pending. An interview with NBC News on January 18th suggested a potential 90-day delay to the ban, allowing time for a U.S. or allied buyer to acquire the app. This acquisition hasn't yet materialized, leading to the current ban. Concurrently, other apps linked to TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, including CapCut, Lemon8, and Marvel Snap, have also been deactivated.