TikTok went offline in the US hours before the ban took effect

TikTok has shut down operations in the US, hours before new laws banning the platform take effect.

A message appearing on the app for US users said a TikTok ban had been enacted, meaning “you cannot use TikTok at this time.”

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us to find a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office,” it said.

It comes after the social media platform warned it would be “dark” on Sunday unless the outgoing Biden administration gave assurances that the ban would not be enforced.

President-elect Donald Trump said he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day exemption from the ban after he takes office on Monday.

The app has also been removed from both Apple and Google’s US app stores, and TikTok.com doesn’t show videos, users said.

“The 90-day extension is something that will most likely be done because it is appropriate,” Mr. Trump said. NBC News on Saturday.

“If I decide to do it, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

The White House said it is up to the incoming administration to take action.

“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take action in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. .

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law passed last April that banned the app in the US unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sold the platform on Sunday, which which they have not been able to do.

TikTok has argued that the law violates free speech protections for its 170 million users in the country.

After the ruling, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew called out Trump, thanking him for his “commitment to working with us to find a solution.”

Mr Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

In the coming hours to offline social media platformsContent creators posted videos to say goodbye to their followers.

Creator Nicole Bloomgarden told the BBC that not joining TikTok would result in a significant pay cut.

Another user, Erika Thompson, said educational content on the platform would be the “biggest loss” to the community.

TikTok users previously received a notice on Saturday saying the law would “force us to temporarily not offer our services. We are working to restore our services in the US as soon as possible.” “