TikTok is not obtainable in the USA—not less than for now. But it surely’s not the one ByteDance-owned app that’s presently blocked for US-based customers.
Shortly earlier than the federally mandated January 19 deadline, TikTok reduce off entry to anybody trying to entry the app from the US. “A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the US. Sadly, which means you may’t use the TikTok app for now,” reads a block-screen confronting US customers once they try and load the app. “We’re lucky that President Trump has indicated that he’ll work with us on an answer to reinstate TikTok as soon as he takes workplace. Please keep tuned!”
Related notifications seem on different apps owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s guardian firm, which is predicated in China and sits on the core of the controversy over a well-liked video app that, not less than till Saturday, had 170 million customers within the US. Video-editing app CapCut, photo- and video-sharing app Lemon8, and others have now gone darkish within the US.
A federal regulation handed final yr bans ByteDance-owned apps from working within the US on nationwide safety grounds. In response to Chinese language legal guidelines that demand China-based corporations present their knowledge to the Chinese language authorities and intelligence companies, the Defending Individuals From Overseas Adversary Managed Functions Act (PAFACA) required ByteDance to promote TikTok and its different apps to an entity not based mostly in China by Sunday.
That sale didn’t occur. In consequence, TikTok started blocking US-based customers on Saturday, January 18, forward of the midnight deadline. As a result of PAFACA bans all apps operated by ByteDance, not simply TikTok, customers of its myriad different apps are assembly the identical restrictions.
PAFACA doesn’t require ByteDance to dam US-based customers of its apps. As an alternative, it prohibits any US firm from offering any service to “distribute, preserve or replace” ByteDance-owned apps. In consequence, many of those apps are not obtainable in Apple and Google’s app shops. That will change quickly after Donald Trump takes workplace on Monday, nevertheless, with the US president-elect indicating that he plans to increase the deadline for a sale of TikTok by 90 days. Sure, it’s all very complicated.
For now, right here’s the rundown of all of the apps US customers can not entry as a result of US ban on ByteDance-owned apps.
TikTok, TikTok Studio, TikTok Store Vendor, TikTok Lite
Not simply TikTok, however different ByteDance-owned apps that work for the TikTok ecosystem have additionally turn out to be unavailable together with the principle app. These embrace TikTok Studio (for creators to handle content material and verify analytics), TikTok Store Vendor (for ecommerce sellers on the app to handle their enterprise operations), and TikTok Lite (a smaller and sooner model of the unique app that’s solely obtainable in sure nations).
CapCut
CapCut is a free video-editing software, optimized for vertical movies that may be posted on TikTok. It’s typically the app of selection for beginner creators, as a result of its skilled options. Some creators additionally use CapCut to first produce movies earlier than importing them to platforms apart from TikTok.
Lemon8
ByteDance launched Lemon8 in February 2023 as a photo-based social media app. It’s identified for resembling RedNote, a very profitable social media app in China that has additionally turn out to be the vacation spot for a lot of TikTok customers in exile this week. Some TikTok customers had additionally chosen emigrate to Lemon8, however the app has additionally gone offline.
Gauth
With Gauth, college students can take footage of their homework, and the app will use synthetic intelligence to know the issue and supply step-by-step options. It additionally has different options that assist college students be extra productive whereas learning. In line with the app’s shutdown announcement this weekend, it has “helped 300 million customers with billions of questions.”
Hypic
Hypic, launched in 2022, is a photo-editing software with a heavy deal with generative AI instruments. It makes use of AI to assist customers improve picture high quality or rework a photograph right into a cartoon.
Lark
Lark is a Slack-like workspace communications app. Initially created for ByteDance’s personal inner messages amongst staff, it has now turn out to be one of many most-used workplace communications apps in China, with a number of million lively customers.
Melolo, Fizzo, MyTopia Books
Poligon, a Singapore-based subsidiary of ByteDance, publishes a number of apps that enable customers to observe brief vertical dramas (Melolo) or learn on-line fiction novels (Fizzo and MyTopia Books). MyTopia Books is the one a kind of apps that didn’t finish help for US-based customers, and someway stays obtainable on Apple’s US App Retailer.
Tokopedia
Tokopedia is one in every of Indonesia’s largest ecommerce platforms. It was acquired by ByteDance in December 2023 and merged with TikTok Store’s operation within the nation after the Indonesian authorities banned the latter app, citing “the necessity to defend smaller retailers and customers’ knowledge.”
It has turn out to be unavailable on Apple’s US App Retailer however stays obtainable on Google’s US Play Retailer as of publication.
