New York: TikTok's app was removed from both Apple and Google’s app stores on Saturday evening, ahead of the federal law that bans the popular social media platform in the United States. By 10:50pm Eastern Standard Time, the app was no longer available for download, with the law demanding that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, either sell the platform or face a ban.

Temporary Unavailability Alert for US Users
Users who tried accessing TikTok on Saturday encountered a pop-up message informing them that the app would become “temporarily unavailable” as the law was set to take effect. The message read: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now." It further noted: "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!"

Legal Tussles and Trump’s Intervention

After months of legal battles, the US Supreme Court upheld the law that mandates the ban of the popular video-sharing platform due to national security concerns, unless ByteDance reaches an agreement to sell the app to non-Chinese buyers. President Donald Trump, who has credited TikTok with connecting him to younger voters during his election campaign, has expressed that he is exploring options to delay the ban. He mentioned, "The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate."

TikTok’s Efforts to Delay the Ban

TikTok has been lobbying to prevent the law’s enforcement, with CEO Shou Chew appealing to Trump, thanking him for his commitment to finding a solution. Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, showing TikTok’s ongoing efforts to thwart the law.

Potential Solutions for ByteDance

In a last-ditch effort, start-up Perplexity AI proposed a merger with TikTok’s US operations, a move potentially worth $50 billion. Additionally, former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has made an offer to purchase TikTok's US operations, while Canadian investor Kevin O'Leary mentioned a $20 billion offer.

Legality and Future of the Ban

However, legal experts warn that the law, passed by Congress, is designed to be resistant to presidential intervention. Sarah Kreps, a government professor at Cornell University, stated, "If an executive order conflicts with an existing law, the law takes precedence."

Impact on Competitors

Should the shutdown proceed, TikTok's US rivals, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, stand to gain significant market share. Thousands of concerned TikTok users have already begun flocking to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, which has surged in popularity in the US.

With AP, AFP inputs