The United States has officially banned TikTok.
As of Saturday evening, the popular video-sharing app went dark for American users following the US Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal law banning the app unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sold it to an approved buyer.
The ban—originally passed last year—has raised questions about whether Canada could follow suit.
Late Saturday, American TikTok users attempting to access the app were met with a pop-up message that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” The app was simultaneously removed from US app stores operated by Apple and Google, while TikTok.com ceased displaying videos.
The TikTok ban stems from national security concerns surrounding the app’s ties to ByteDance. The law, signed in April by US President Joe Biden, prohibits the app’s use unless ByteDance divests its ownership.
With the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Friday to uphold the law, the ban went into effect at midnight Sunday. TikTok has argued the legislation infringes on free speech protections for its 170 million US users and is actively challenging the decision.
While TikTok has been banned in America, this notification pops up when you try to open the app:
“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!” pic.twitter.com/roUuNr5elB
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) January 19, 2025
US president-elect Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated on Monday, has indicated he will issue an executive order granting ByteDance additional time to secure a buyer. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has publicly thanked Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution” and is expected to attend the inauguration.
The US ban has renewed scrutiny on TikTok in Canada, where the app was removed from government-issued devices nearly two years ago due to similar security concerns.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, addressing the issue after the US law came into effect, stated, “Canada will continue to look very closely at how we can make sure we’re keeping Canadians safe, while making sure we’re taking advantage of great technologies that spur innovation and opportunities for people right across the country.”
The Canadian government has already ordered TikTok’s Canadian operations to shut down, though this move would not block Canadians from accessing the app. TikTok is challenging the order in court.
While Canadians can still use TikTok, the US ban will significantly affect the platform’s reach for Canadian creators. Roughly 83% of their audience comes from the US, meaning their potential viewer base will shrink dramatically.
Canadian creators who rely on TikTok for income and influence will likely need to pivot to other platforms to maintain their visibility.
Experts suggest that Canada could impose its own ban, following the US’s lead, if similar national security concerns are deemed credible. For now, the app remains accessible, but the debate over its future—both in Canada and globally—is far from over.
As American users adjust to the absence of the app, the question remains: will Canada be next? For Victorians who are influencers on the app, how does this impact you? Will a diminished US audience affect your content and career, or will you adapt to other platforms? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
This post was originally published on here
