TikTok has become inaccessible in the U.S. following a Supreme Court ruling that enforced a ban on the app. Users receive a notification about the law, expressing hope for a solution under President Trump. Influencers like James Charles and Emily Senn have voiced their dismay over the loss of community and livelihood. As a result, many creators are migrating to YouTube and other platforms, while users are exploring alternatives like Xiaohongshu.
TikTok’s Unfortunate Shutdown in the U.S.
Users of the popular Chinese social media platform, TikTok, are currently met with a disheartening message: “Sorry, TikTok is not available at the moment.” This unfortunate turn of events occurred on Saturday, as the app became inaccessible after the Supreme Court upheld a law prohibiting its use in the United States, effective Sunday.
When attempting to access the platform, Americans are greeted with a notification stating, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the United States. Unfortunately, this means you cannot use TikTok at the moment.” The message goes on to express optimism, noting that President Trump has pledged to collaborate on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he assumes office. Users are encouraged to either seek further information or exit the app.
Influencers React to TikTok’s Ban
This sudden shutdown has left many American content creators feeling despondent. James Charles, a popular influencer with 38 million followers, expressed his frustration in a video shared on Instagram. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve opened and closed the app six times just to see the same warning message. It feels dystopian. I feel isolated from my community,” he lamented. The future of TikTok in the U.S. now rests in the hands of the newly elected president, who has indicated plans to issue an executive order to suspend the TikTok ban.
Prior to the app’s closure, influencers had already voiced their concerns through videos on TikTok. Emily Senn, who has 350,000 followers, shared her emotional response, stating, “You just deprived millions of people of their livelihoods. I feel silly crying about an app, but it has provided me with a community during difficult times in my life.” Sofia Bella, another TikTok creator with 4.8 million followers, also shared her devastation, acknowledging the challenges of losing her audience and the feeling of starting over.
The news of TikTok’s abrupt closure has garnered worldwide attention, with personalities like American tennis star Coco Gauff remarking, “RIP TikTok USA” after her match at the Australian Open.
In the wake of the ban, many TikTok creators have begun migrating to YouTube, with several influencers swiftly uploading content on the platform to welcome the “refugees” from TikTok. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who boasts nearly 470,000 subscribers on YouTube, expressed gratitude to his followers in a live-streamed video. Meanwhile, American users have begun flocking to another Chinese app, Xiaohongshu (known as RedNote in English), which has rapidly climbed the charts as one of the most downloaded applications in the U.S.