Well, it’s official, folks—TikTok has danced its last dance in the U.S. (for now). Starting Saturday evening, millions of American users opened the app, only to be met with a pop-up saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” It’s like logging into a party, only to find the DJ’s packed up and gone home.
The blackout came just hours before a federal law banning the app took effect. TikTok was promptly removed from Apple and Google app stores, and even its website isn’t offering much comfort—except maybe the option to download your data if you’re feeling nostalgic.
The ban stems from concerns about TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and the potential for data falling into the wrong hands. The Supreme Court upheld the law on Friday, deciding that national security risks outweighed free speech claims from TikTok and its 170 million U.S. users.
Adding a twist of drama, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, issued a heartfelt thank-you video to President-elect Donald Trump, who’s pledged to “save” the platform after he takes office. A 90-day extension could be on the table, but for now, TikTok fans are stuck watching their For You Pages fade into the void.
Meanwhile, critics of the ban are calling it a heavy-handed move. One Chinese commentator even dubbed this the “darkest moment in the development of the internet.” (We get it; nobody likes being ghosted.)
For now, Americans will have to find new ways to fill their time—maybe learning a new hobby or finally finishing that book they keep putting off. But don’t delete TikTok just yet. With Trump’s potential intervention and ByteDance exploring creative solutions, this story isn’t over.
Stay tuned, because if TikTok’s taught us anything, it’s that there’s always a plot twist waiting.