There was a mix of uproar and lighthearted responses on the social media platform X following the TikTok shutdown. On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the short-form video-hosting social media website went dark following a nationwide ban. Amidst the anger and confusion that ensued, here, we’ll take a look at what X users had to say.
Millions of TikTok users in the United States were downcast after trying unsuccessfully to access the app on Saturday. Those who were already viewing content suddenly experienced a blackout, while others who were looking to log in were denied access to their accounts.
“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” read the message displayed on the app after the shutdown. Shortly after, social media platform X exploded with all manner of posts and comments concerning the development.
One user, @ayeejuju, described the situation with a meme showing people running in the same direction. The meme came with the funny caption, “Everyone rushing to Twitter [X] because TikTok is gone.”
One of the most popular TikTok ban memes showed a funeral ceremony where the TikTok logo appeared on the headstone of a grave. A seemingly uninterested individual with the tag “Me who never used TikTok” smiled and took a photo with it as he flashed a “peace sign.”
But there were more serious posts, too. Many users described the banned app as a spy tool for the Chinese government. @johncardillo wrote, “Too many Americans look at TikTok as a harmless app. The Chinese look at TikTok as one of the most successful intelligence gathering tools they have ever deployed in the United States.”
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Did TikTok Shut Down?
Popular social media site TikTok shut itself down sometime around 11 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 18, 2025. This complied with a nationwide ban on the app, which stopped internet service providers from offering service on the platform. Also, app stores had to take the app off its shelves.
Before the ban took effect, incoming President Donald Trump had offered to intervene in the matter. He had indicated that he could suspend the ban for 90 days. He hinted that he could make an announcement to this effect on Monday, January 20, 2025, the day he was sworn in as America’s 47th president.
Top celebrities also reacted to the shutdown. Billionaire and X owner, Elon Musk provided some interesting input. In his post on Sunday, January 19, he wrote, “I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time because it goes against freedom of speech.”
Despite his reservations, he disclosed why the ban was necessary at this time. “That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but X is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced,” he added. “Something needs to change.”
The Chinese government has since banned a number of American web services. Among them are X, Instagram, Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Snapchat, YouTube, and Slack. China banned X in 2019. The reason? It’s alleged potential to incite social unrest. The Asian giant has also cited its disapproval of the banned site’s data collection policies.
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Why Was TikTok Turned Off?
TikTok was turned off to comply with a new law passed by United States legislators in 2024. The divest-or-ban bill, which yanked TikTok from its over 170 million American users, became law in 2024. The bill was passed through efforts from both the Republican and Democrat sides of the aisle.
The law required TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company if it wanted to avoid a ban. Chinese government officials also considered selling off the company’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk. But the plan hasn’t yet worked.
On the other hand, the app did not go down without a fight. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew contracted lawyers who approached the United States Supreme Court to challenge the ban. The lawyers argued that the ban infringed upon the freedom of speech of its American users.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court determined that the law didn’t violate the rights of the app’s users. The unanimous verdict stated that Congress “had good reason to single out TikTok for special treatment.” This judgment kept the door open to the January 2025 ban.
Why Is TikTok Getting Banned in the US?
What is the reason for the ban? After President-Elect Donald Trump sounded the alarm about a potential national security threat, Republican legislators began to investigate the possible dangers in the app’s operations. Soon after, Democratic Party lawmakers joined in the concern.
The Chinese government requires organizations to cooperate with their intelligence agencies in gathering information. Former FBI boss Christopher Wray told Congress that the Chinese government could infiltrate American devices using the app.
Lawmakers also reportedly received information during classified briefings of shady practices noticed on the app. Democrat Sen. Chris Coons from Delaware, who was privy to such briefings, disclosed that “rivers of data are being collected and shared in ways that are not well-aligned with American security interests.”
Another Senator, Josh Hawley, explained why the app could be a major security threat. “If you have TikTok on your phone currently, it can track your whereabouts, it can read your messages, it can track your keystrokes. It has access to your phone records,” he stated.
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