NAIROBI, Kenya- TikTok’s meteoric rise to cultural dominance has hit a wall in the United States.
As millions of American users attempt to log in, they’re greeted with a stark reality: the app has officially gone dark in the United States.
This move comes hours before a law banning TikTok was set to take effect.
Trump revealed to NBC News that he’ll “most likely” grant the app a 90-day extension from the ban. “The extension will be most likely done because it’s appropriate,” Trump said.
TikTok is banned because politicians don’t have the balls to ban all apps from taking our data instead.
The Supreme Court recently upheld the ban, giving ByteDance until January 19 to find a buyer—a deadline it’s refused to meet.
Late Friday, TikTok hinted it might “go dark” if clarity wasn’t provided, leaving content creators and businesses on edge.
In response, the outgoing Biden administration dismissed the warning as a “stunt.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that any actions regarding the ban would fall under Trump’s incoming administration, saying, “We see no reason for TikTok to take actions in the next few days.”
The app’s shutdown could mirror what happened in India, where a 2020 government mandate abruptly blocked TikTok and other Chinese apps.
With 200 million users cut off overnight, TikTok look-alikes like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts swiftly filled the void.
The TikTok saga has become a geopolitical chess piece in U.S.-China relations.
National security officials claim the app poses a risk of espionage, which TikTok denies. Trump, however, appears torn.
Despite backing a ban, he’s openly praised the platform, citing billions of views on his campaign videos as evidence of its impact.
Adding to the intrigue, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, potentially paving the way for behind-the-scenes negotiations.
TikTok’s U.S. audience now finds itself staring at a blank screen, while the platform’s future hangs in the balance.
Whether Trump’s promised 90-day extension will revive the app or if this marks the end of TikTok’s American chapter remains uncertain.
For now, creators, users, and businesses are left hoping for an encore—but they may need to start practicing their dance moves elsewhere.
