TikTok isn’t working in the U.S.
On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a law that effectively banned TikTok in the U.S., starting today. The decision sided with the government’s national security concerns about the social media platform and its parent company, ByteDance, over arguments about free speech.
TikTok now displays a message explaining to users that a ban was passed, but “President Donald Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution,” asking users to “stay tuned.” Trump is expected to take office tomorrow.
Trump promised to “save” the platform and told NBC News he expects to “most likely” offer a 90-day extension to avoid the ban. TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend the inauguration.
TikTok responded to the high court’s decision in a TikTok post, with Chew thanking President-elect Trump for his commitment to help find a solution and American users for being a part of the platform’s community.
Here’s what to know about the TikTok ban and what it means for users:
Is TikTok banned in the US?
A law effectively banning the TikTok app in the U.S. has become effective today.
Under the ban, the app would be illegal to distribute through the Apple App Store and Google Play. App stores removed the app, but they won’t delete it from devices on which it has been installed.
Did TikTok shut down today?
Yes.
TikTok’s sudden shutdown left over 170 million monthly users adrift, severing access to a platform that had become a staple of daily life. From teenagers tracking trends and staying connected with friends to creators who built careers and pursued internet stardom, the app’s loss has disrupted communities and livelihoods alike.
Can I still use TikTok after the ban?
Under TikTok’s plan to shut down the app, people attempting to open the app today see a pop-up message directing them to a site with details about the ban or prompting them to close the app.
Can I bypass the TikTok ban using VPN?
VPNs, or virtual private networks that hide your IP address and online activity by routing your internet traffic through a different location, aren’t working for most people.
“No luck with a VPN. Tried accessing from both Australia and the UK,” one person wrote on Reddit. “I’m actually outside the US right now and it still doesn’t work for even me,” another wrote.
Other workarounds like using the Tor browser, which allows people to use the internet anonymously by masking where their online traffic is coming from, also did not work.
— Bailey Schulz, Jessica Guynn
More: Is TikTok banned? Can you still use it? What to know after ban upheld by Supreme Court.
Contributing: Maureen Groppe, Greta Cross, Mike Snider, Rebecca Morin, Jonathan Limehouse, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is TikTok over?: Live updates
