With the flick of a switch, TikTok was turned off in America.
Instead of the high-velocity carousel of viral morsels, around 10:30 p.m. ET − 90 minutes before the shutdown deadline −TikTok users in the U.S. received a pop-up 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,” the message read. “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!”
Under the prohibition, app store operators and internet hosting service providers may incur substantial penalties for offering TikTok to American users. The application disappeared from Apple and Google’s app stores. The Information revealed that cloud computing company Oracle instructed employees to deactivate the servers that host TikTok.
TikTok’s sudden vanishing stranded more than 170 million monthly users who had incorporated the highly engaging short-video app into their everyday routines, including teenagers who stayed connected with friends and trends and creators who made a living and sought internet notoriety through it.
Now they are finding it difficult to adjust to a world lacking it.
Before TikTok shuttered, one user posted a video in his bathrobe and cowboy boots, lugging a carry-on and a bottle of laundry detergent for his with more than 300,000 followers. “Me arriving to China Jan. 19 so I can still use TikTok.”
“It feels as though summer camp has ended and we will never reunite with our camp companions,” one user remarked on the video that received millions of views. “I’m genuinely best friends with a whole group of strangers and I’m going to miss every single one of you so incredibly much,” another user commented.
Late Saturday night, supporters expressed their grief on various social media sites.
“Merely observed TikTok going offline in real time. Initially, the likes and comments ceased to function, next saving was turned off, then no new videos would load, and finally, I was logged out,” one user stated on X. “The final TikTok I managed to view was of an individual calmly bobbing along to if I were a fish. ”
President-elect Donald Trump is exploring choices to delay the ban, but TikTok did not wait for a last-minute stay and instead terminated operations.
CEO Shou Chew shared a video on the app expressing gratitude to Trump and promised: “More to come. ”
“We think there is considerable movement happening out of sight from both financial and strategic technology purchasers for the valuable TikTok asset,” stated Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives.
James A. Lewis, a specialist in technology policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated that TikTok might feel remorse for its closure with its future uncertain.
“After they accomplish that, their market value diminishes significantly, and they will never retrieve those users,” Lewis stated. “The important aspect is TikTok’s user community, the 170 million passionate users who adore TikTok, and that’s what individuals are eager to acquire before it skyrockets. Therefore, it’s truly a considerable risk for TikTok to undertake this. ”
TikTok was the epicenter of America’s pop culture.
TikTok might still revive its presence in America if Trump discovers a solution or if it sells off its U. S. operations. Chinese officials have talked about the chance of permitting Elon Musk to invest in or take charge of its U. S. operations. Trump informed NBC News that he anticipates he will “most likely” enforce a 90-day pause.
For the time being, none of that brings much comfort to the devoted group of TikTok fans, particularly those who grew up with it.
For an application with Chinese roots, TikTok dominated America as its capital of pop culture.
Where will users of TikTok head to next?
Large social media platforms typically experience a prolonged decline, losing significance and users as they are gradually overtaken by a new wave of innovative newcomers, such as Facebook overpowering Myspace.
TikTok’s downfall is a different narrative. It’s exiting at a time close to the peak of its fame, a victim of a geopolitical struggle that a lot of its younger fans in the U. S. can’t identify with.
With its destiny uncertain since April when President Joe Biden enacted legislation to tackle national security issues, TikTok users observed the situation develop as the Chinese parent firm ByteDance and creators collaborated with the company to resist the law in court, contending that a sale is unfeasible and the prohibition is unconstitutional.
TikTok users found it difficult to be modest (another trending phenomenon on TikTok), but ultimately, a significant number of them chose not to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision or for the federal prohibition to be implemented. They had already started to discover a realm of fresh options with RedNote leading in downloads.
“We observed this protest arise even before TikTok’s departure,” Grygiel stated. “The community didn’t postpone. They anticipated TikTok’s choice. ”
But where will they head to now? India serves as a warning story for TikTok exiles eager for an alternative that can occupy their displays. There is no clear replacement waiting in the app store.
Old favorites such as Instagram and YouTube might see an increase as creators encourage their followers to connect with them on those platforms, but they do not attract the same interest from younger users.
A variety of imitation services was not particularly a replacement for young adults in India. Numerous individuals are still grieving the lack of the app almost five years after it was prohibited by New Delhi.
