As the law banning TikTok in the United States (U.S.) came into force on Sunday, the app has suspended its operations throughout the country.
President John Biden signed the bill into law in April 2024.
According to global reports, the popular app has over 170 million monthly American users.
The law bans new downloads from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play app store, and also makes it “unlawful” to update the app.
This means existing users could keep the app on their phones, but it would never update.
TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance.
The law banning TikTok requires ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations to remain operating in States.
The chief concern U.S. lawmakers say they have with TikTok is that it could double as a spyware app for the Chinese communist government, which the owners have repeatedly denied.
TikTok, according to Chinese Law, is required to share user data if asked to do so.
However, respite may yet come the way of the app as President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in a few hours, said he might give the app a 90-day grace to find a solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, 170 million Americans have been warned by medical professionals, to be wary of health problems they may suffer as a result of withdrawing from the attachment and/or addiction to the popular app.
