TikTok may soon cease operations in the US, marking the end of its services in the country in just five days. Reports indicate that the decision follows a court order, with The Information reporting this on Tuesday.
Interestingly, TikTok’s move differs from the court's ruling, which only banned new downloads from Google Play Store or Apple App Store but allowed existing users to continue using the app as before.
TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, has made an independent decision. According to a source, when users in the US open the app, they will be redirected to a website informing them about the ban.
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Additionally, TikTok may allow American users to download their data, providing a record of their personal information. This move stems from ongoing pressure to sell its US operations due to accusations of data misuse and alleged ties to the Chinese government.
Source: aajtak
President Joe Biden provided Bytedance until January 19, 2025, to divest its US assets. The announcement, made last April, stated that failure to comply could lead to a nationwide ban. Bytedance has yet to release an official statement on this matter.
Reuters reached out to both Bytedance and TikTok for comment, but they have not responded. TikTok enjoys widespread use in the US, with many relying on it even for news. Thus, a ban could significantly impact numerous users.
Also Read: Bad days for TikTok in the US? The Chinese app might be banned after intelligence inputs suggest it could influence elections.
Meanwhile, another Bytedance app, Lemon8, is gaining popularity in the US market. Similar to TikTok, it's rapidly growing in user base. Following the TikTok ban news, another Chinese app, RedNote, has also gained popularity. However, it differs greatly from TikTok.
For security reasons, India banned TikTok a while ago, paving the way for YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels to rise in prominence. Although other platforms emerged during that time, none managed to maintain a lasting presence.
