Home US What time does TikTok go dark? Everything you need to know about the ban and what could happen next if it is lifted

What time does TikTok go dark? Everything you need to know about the ban and what could happen next if it is lifted

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The TikTok ban will come into effect on Sunday, with the app likely to go 'dark' from midnight

The clock is ticking toward a U.S. ban on TikTok, but users seeking clarity on what that will mean received little information Saturday from the company that runs the popular video-sharing platform or from the tech giants that offer the TikTok app on their digital marketplaces.

Here, DailyMail.com answers some of the most pressing questions about the future of the app.

What’s happening with TikTok in the US?

As of now, there’s little clarity from TikTok or the tech giants hosting the app on what this will mean for users. The ban stems from a law that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to US users. This law will go into effect on Sunday, with the app likely going “dark” starting at midnight EST.

TikTok asked the Biden administration for a “definitive declaration” that would assure Google, Apple and other companies that they would not face fines if they continued to make the service available nationwide. Otherwise, TikTok said it will be “forced dark” on Sunday.

Experts have said that given the way the law is written, current TikTok users would continue to have access to the app but not receive updates, ultimately making it unworkable.

But an anonymous source at TikTok has said that if users try to open the app, they will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban.

The TikTok ban will come into effect on Sunday, with the app likely to go ‘dark’ from midnight

Is TikTok coming back and if so, when?

Yes, President-elect Donald Trump stated in an interview with NBC News that he might grant a 60- to 90-day extension to allow TikTok to continue functioning beyond Sunday. This would give TikTok’s parent company ByteDance more time to sell its US operations to an approved buyer.

The timing of the ban has complicated matters, perhaps to TikTok’s advantage: The outgoing Biden administration reiterated on Saturday that it views the implementation and enforcement of the law as the responsibility of Trump, who takes office on Monday and has pledged to shut down the app ‘to rescue’.

Why is this ban happening?

The US government, under both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration, has expressed concerns about national security. ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok and its potential to misuse user data have been the main reasons behind the push for divestiture or a ban.

What is the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations?

Under the law, TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance had nine months to sell the platform’s U.S. operations to an approved buyer. The law allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress.

ByteDance previously said it would not sell, but TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with prime seating.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump's inauguration with a prime seating location

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a prime seating location

Are there buyers interested in TikTok?

Several potential buyers have come forward. Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance on Saturday to create a new entity merging Perplexity with the American TikTok company. If successful, the new structure would include other investors and allow ByteDance’s existing shareholders to retain their stake in the company.

Perplexity does not require the purchase of the coveted ByteDance algorithm that delivers videos from TikTok users based on their interests. Perplexity is believed to be offering more than $50 billion.

Separately, a consortium led by Kevin O’Leary and Frank McCourt offered $20 billion in cash for TikTok.

What about TikTok’s algorithm?

Perplexity’s proposal does not include the acquisition of ByteDance’s proprietary algorithm, which personalizes video recommendations for users. Instead, they would rebuild a new algorithm for the US platform.

What happens if TikTok is banned?

The details remain unclear. Experts suggest that while existing users may still be able to access the app, they would not receive updates, making the platform less functional over time. TikTok has indicated that it may have to go ‘dark’ on Sunday if there is no clarity.

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. operations. Pictured are TikTokkers Sarah Baus, left, of Charleston and Tiffany Cianci, who says she has a "creator of long-form educational content"

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. Pictured are TikTokkers Sarah Baus, left, of Charleston and Tiffany Cianci, who says she is a “longtime educational content creator”

What has the US Supreme Court ruled on this?

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. In issuing the decision, the justices rejected Trump’s request to wait until his administration could pursue a “political solution” to the issue.

TikTok, ByteDance and some of the dedicated users who rely on the platform argued that the statute violated the First Amendment. The Biden administration sought to demonstrate that ByteDance’s ownership and control of TikTok posed an unacceptable threat to national security.

How do TikTok’s users and employees react?

TikTok users and content creators, who rely on the platform for entertainment and revenue, have expressed concerns about the possible ban. Meanwhile, TikTok has assured its US workers that their wages, benefits and employment status will remain secure regardless of the app’s future.

What is the global context for TikTok?

TikTok has faced criticism and legal challenges worldwide. In October, several US states sued TikTok for allegedly harming children’s mental health. Internationally, Venezuela and Albania have sanctioned or restricted TikTok for several reasons, including its inability to moderate harmful content and incitement to violence.

What’s next for TikTok?

TikTok’s future in the US depends on whether ByteDance can successfully divest its US operations or negotiate terms with the government. President-elect Trump has hinted that he will announce a decision on a possible extension on Monday.

TikTok has assured its US employees that their wages, benefits and employment status will remain secure regardless of the app's future. Pictured: Employees at the TikTok building in Culver City, California

TikTok has assured its US employees that their wages, benefits and employment status will remain secure regardless of the app’s future. Pictured: Employees at the TikTok building in Culver City, California

What alternatives are there to TikTok?

Uncertainty over the app’s future had left users – especially young people – looking for alternatives, including China-based RedNote, a Chinese social media network similar to Instagram. It was the most downloaded app in the US Apple Store this week.

Rivals Meta and Snap also saw their shares rise this month ahead of the ban, as investors bet on an influx of users and advertising dollars. Other US-based rivals Meta-owned Instagram Reels, Google-owned YouTube Shorts and streaming platform Twitch would likely benefit from the ban.

Lemon8 is also mentioned as a possible alternative. The app is similar to Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok in one suite. The app is described as a ‘lifestyle’ social app that allows users to share photos and videos of daily routines.

But Lemon8 is also developed by the same Chinese company as TikTok, ByteDance, which means it could soon find itself in the spotlight.

Marketing companies that relied on TikTok rushed this week to draw up contingency plans in what one executive described as a “hair on fire” moment after months of conventional wisdom saying there would be a fix to keep the app running.

Uncertainty over the app's future had left users - especially young people - looking for alternatives, including China-based RedNote (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese social media network similar to Instagram. It was the most downloaded app in the US Apple Store this week

Uncertainty over the app’s future had left users – especially young people – looking for alternatives, including China-based RedNote (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese social media network similar to Instagram. It was the most downloaded app in the US Apple Store this week

There were signs that TikTok could make a comeback under Trump, who has said he wants to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue and last month urged the Supreme Court to suspend implementation of the ban.

What is the ‘TikTok graveyard’ trend?

The TikTok graveyard trend was one of the more obscure and unusual trends to emerge on the app.

Users created content around cemeteries and historic burial sites, often focusing on cleaning, restoring, or sharing stories about those buried beneath them.

Some creators caused controversy by cleaning graves without permission, but millions watched the videos, essentially making money for the creator, allowing them to continue paying for cleaning materials to scrub graves.

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