UPDATE: Jan. 19,Jin Seo 2025, 10:52 a.m. CST This article was updated to add Trump's new statement on Sunday stating plans for an executive order to delay the enforcement of TikTok's U.S. ban.
UPDATE: Jan. 19, 2025, 12:28 p.m. CST This aritcle was updated to reflect TikTok's comments on Sunday announcing its "in the process" of restoring TikTok for U.S users after Trump's comments.
It's official: TikTok, an app used by a third of American adults, is banned in the U.S. You can probably tell by the pop-up message you see if you try to open the app.
"Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now."
The notification users received Saturday night closed with the following statement:
"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!"
This pop-up isn't exactly a surprise. It comes after months of legal battles and political maneuvers, which reached a fever pitch on Friday, Jan. 17, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold the ban, lining up with decisions other courts have made. Earlier this week, sources at TikTok told Reuters that anyone in the U.S. who opens the app will see a pop-up message that will take them to a website with information about the ban. It looks like TikTok made good on its plan.
SEE ALSO: As TikTok faces a ban, creators brace for an uncertain futureIt's not the first time TikTok has sent a politically motivated pop-up message about the U.S. government's efforts to ban the app due to concerns over its Chinese ownership. In March 2024, the app asked users to call their representatives to ask for an end to the ban.
"Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok," the pop-up message read. "Speak up now — before your government strips 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, and deny artists an audience. Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO."
SEE ALSO: If TikTok is banned in the U.S., this is what it will look like for everyone elseDespite the ban, TikTok is still fighting to be reinstated. If the ban gets reversed, TikTok sources told Reuters that it would be able to restore service "in a relatively short time," and TikTok CEO Shou Chew is cozying up to President-elect Donald Trump in hopes that he might reverse the app. President Joe Biden won't enforce the ban, punting that decision to Trump. Within a few hours of that announcement, Chew released a statement video on TikTok thanking Trump "for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States."
In regards to TikTok, as Trump starts his term on Monday, the President-elect stated on Sunday that he'd delay the ban with an executive order. In response to Trump's comments, TikTok announced that it was "in the process" of restoring service to U.S users.
This article will be updated as more news on the ban comes out.
Topics TikTok
Hurricane Laura's impact lingered with nightmarish mosquito swarms
The Couch Had Nothing to Do with Me by Maya Binyam
The Blackstairs Mountains by Colm Tóibín
Love Songs: “Someone Great” by Daniel Poppick
Best travel deal: Score the Frontier Go Wild! summer pass for just $399
Relentlessness: A Syllabus by Colm Tóibín
Three Favorite Lyricists by The Paris Review
The Review Wins the National Magazine Award for Fiction by The Paris Review
Dell S3422DWG Gaming Monitor deal: save $100 at Amazon
John Wick Marathon by The Paris Review
Skype is finally shutting down
Porn by Polly Barton
Announcing Our Winter Issue by Emily Stokes
LSD Snowfall: An Interview with Uman by Camille Jacobson
NYT Connections hints and answers for May 10: Tips to solve 'Connections' #699.
My Royal Quiet Deluxe by Matthew Zapruder
Sometimes a Little Bullshit Is Fine: A Conversation with Charles Simic by Chard deNiord
Selling to the Strand: A Conversation with Larry Campbell by Troy Schipdam
Best Amazon Fire TV Cube deal: Save $30 at Amazon
Gaddis/Markson: Two Letters by William Gaddis and David Markson
Jimmy Carter shook everyone's hands on a flight to Atlanta because that's his thingMichael Jordan's old Converse sneakers sell for a record $190,000Anyone with a brain should be pissed off at Delta and Bank of America right nowEveryone's getting a wardrobe upgrade on 'Game of Thrones'Say goodbye to 'Hello,' creator of this overvalued sleep trackerThere’s an epidemic of LGBTQ hate violence. Here's how you can curb it.All the best memes and jokes from the Warriors' NBA Finals winEverything we know about the next Xbox, called Xbox One XDave Chappelle just announced a bunch of new showsWeirdest music festival ever combines Migos with ZZ Top and Train, yes, Train'Super Mario Odyssey' replaces power ups with the ability to become enemies'Metroid Prime 4' makes fanfolk dreams come true at E3 2017What's a good name for someone who uses a fidget spinner?Amazon finally added a call blocking feature to the EchoTonys 2017: Here's the full winners listCouples are celebrating 50 years since interracial marriage was legalized with #LovingDay'Metroid Prime 4' makes fanfolk dreams come true at E3 2017Tech dominates ranking of the world's most valuable brands'Cars 3' reviews prove how desperately we need more female film criticsBanking with your personal assistant could be here soon 'Game of Thrones' is a bittersweet rewatch during social distancing Everything coming to Hulu in May 2020 Netflix now worth more than Disney with influx of new subscribers Love a tweet so much you wish you could frame it? Now you can Otter launches live transcription for Zoom meetings If you want to start making your own sourdough, start with this DIY tracker Photo of Adele and Stormzy hanging out is absolute squad goals HBO Max: Is it free for HBO Go and HBO Now subscribers? Gamers report unauthorized access to their Nintendo accounts Twitter updates misinformation rules again to fight 5G coronavirus truthers Google says government Phone company totally destroys troll with 1 brutal tweet 'Glitter tears' is the beauty trend for sad but sparkly people Boston Dynamics robot dogs help coronavirus patients Australia will make Facebook and Google pay media organisations for content Everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in May 2020 Nintendo claims Mario is 26 years old and I am here to put a stop to it Facebook and Instagram just made high Samsung Galaxy Z Flip gets a neat exclusive YouTube feature Tor lays off staff as privacy takes another coronavirus