TikTok goes dark in the US ahead of ban

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Sat 18 Jan 2025 23.09 EST
Last modified on Sun 19 Jan 2025 00.20 EST


TikTok stopped working in the US late on Saturday, shortly before a federal ban on the Chinese-owned short-video app was due to take effect.

The app was no longer available on Apple’s iOS App Store or Google’s Play Store. The US Congress passed a law in April mandating that parent company ByteDance either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or face a total shutdown. It chose the latter. TikTok said that divestment “is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally”. The company held that line until the very end.

The app’s disappearance has been five years in the making. Donald Trump first proposed a ban on TikTok in mid-2020 via executive order, which did not succeed. Various members of Congress proposed measures that would do the same, only one passed. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act became law, mandating TikTok be sold or be banned.

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. 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,” a message to users attempting to use the app said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/19/tiktok-us-ban

[Karasu]

1. Yeah, I've seen people post photos of the message. The Trump part is so fucking ridiculous, but it's real.

He's performed this massive about-face just so he can look like a hero to all the "kiddos." It's such a transparently pathetic publicity stunt that it's painful.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. One of my nieces texted me snapshots of at least a dozen of those messages and the memes about this

A bunch are hilarious sarcasm.

(she uses a non-U.S. VPN so can apparently still view/use)

[cstanleytech]

2. So, TikToc is bad but twitter is good? We live in a world gone mad.

[PJMcK]

4. Social media sucks

It fosters misinformation, disinformation, lies, threats and bullying.

The algorithms used by these services amplifies biases creating digital cliques that reinforce rather than expand viewpoints.

They also, ironically, create more distance from other people as users retreat into their digital worlds and away from the real world, (It’s amusing to me when people online refer to IRL as if there’s a difference.)

How did the world get by before Facebook? Simply and without the negative effects of these influences.

[Bengus81]

5. There have been "boards" since individuals could afford a computer and a modem

I was on one in 1984 on my Commodore 64 and a 1200 baud modem. It was civil then,nothing like today but it was all text and very expensive in the rate charge for dialing up.

[PJMcK]

6. I had the same rig in '84!

The C-64 was a decent first computer for me. I had lots of software: SpeedScript word processor, MultiPlan spreadsheet, Microsoft Flight Simulator, etc.

I had the Commodore color monitor (which later became a TV monitor), an Epson printer, the 1200-baud modem (what a pain!) and the Commodore floppy disk drive.

In 1987, I bought a Mac Plus (1 Mb of RAM!) and have used Apple products ever since.

You’re right about the early bulletin boards. They were more fun and polite.

[Bengus81]

10. LOL...yep,I had a Amdek monitor 13" if I remember right. Now I use a 43" Vizio for a monitor

I had the flight simulator too and then it was just FlightSim 2 for Commodore64, it wasn't owned by MS yet. It was owned by Bruce Artwick who wrote the program and his Company Sublogic. MS licensed the program and sold versions and I think finally bought it in 1995.

I know I bought FS5.1 in the summer of 95 and it was then owned by Microsoft. I've bought most of them since then but have taken a liking to the FS in Google Earth. It's a little rough around the edges but I've changed some things in the flight modeling to make it better.

[endgenocide]

8. How did the world get by before Facebook

I got by the same way I get by today without any of it. I've never had facebook, twitter, tiktok, none of it. Hell I don't even log into microsoft or google when I'm on the web, why would I so they can send me ads? To me those platforms are as you imply corrosive. I don't need some algorithm to influence my point of view.

[Sparky 1]

11. My experiences differ greatly

Maybe what you're saying is true in some forums (I've never hung out on TikTok) but in regards to other social groups I haven't seen it. I've hung out a lot on Facebook groups specifically to discuss dogs. Also on human health matters and "kitchen cures." Also in garedning groups and home decor groups. I've seen a great deal of good done in those groups where people are devoted to helping each other. If someone answers wrongly there are plenty of people to set the record straight so bad advice doesn't endure. So millions of people are getting help online in those and other categories dealing with home, hobby and business matters. I've even been in groups where teens thinking of suicide got talked out of it. Just saying my personal experiences don't at all match what you're saying in general about social media.

[endgenocide]

7. TikTok goes dark

And somehow the sun came up today and the world is still spinning!

[Pachamama]

9. Good Riddens