Social media website, TikTok has been switched off in the United States of America shutting off 170 million users across the US.
The shutdown is in line with a law due to take effect from Sunday (today) which had mandated TikTok to sell its stake or shutdown in the US.
The site went off late Saturday night in compliance with the law. Apple and Google store immediately joined suit by taking down TikTok app from their stores.
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The shutdown also means that users across the globe who rely on both Apple and Google play stores to install and update the TikTok Apps will no longer be able to use the app efficiently.
In a statement the company shared to its users, it stated that it is now relying on the incoming President Donald Trump to help it come back to the US market. President Trump had announced that his administration could give TikTok a 90-day grace to sort out issue relating to its ownership.
The TikTok statement reads, “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.”
Other Apps owned by ByteDance, the owners of TikTok including video editing app CapCut and lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also taken down and their apps removed from both Google and Apple stores.
This is the first time a social media website will be banned in the US. The law which was overwhelmingly passed in the US Congress has laid a solid foundation for the US government to strictly regulate the social media. The US Supreme Court also approved the new law which required TikTok to cut ties with its parent Chinese company or shutdown in the US.
President Trump had told NBC, “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,”
“If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
On the part of the outgoing Joe Biden administration, it was up to President Trump to review or uphold the government’s decision.
“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,” White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
According to Reuters, Chinese Embassy in Washington DC has also reacted saying that, “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”