TikTok is not out there in the USA—not less than for now. But it surely’s not the one ByteDance-owned app that’s at present blocked for US-based customers.
Shortly earlier than the federally mandated January 19 deadline, TikTok minimize off entry to anybody trying to entry the app from the US. “A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the US. Sadly, meaning you may’t use the TikTok app for now,” reads a block-screen confronting US customers after 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!”
Comparable notifications seem on different apps owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s mum or dad firm, which is predicated in China and sits on the core of the controversy over a preferred 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 firms present their knowledge to the Chinese language authorities and intelligence businesses, the Defending Individuals From International Adversary Managed Functions Act (PAFACA) required ByteDance to promote TikTok and its different apps to an entity not primarily based in China by Sunday.
That sale didn’t occur. Because of this, 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, keep or replace” ByteDance-owned apps. Because of this, many of those apps are not out there in Apple and Google’s app shops. Which will change quickly after Donald Trump takes workplace on Monday, nonetheless, 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 embody TikTok Studio (for creators to handle content material and examine analytics), TikTok Store Vendor (for ecommerce sellers on the app to handle their enterprise operations), and TikTok Lite (a smaller and quicker model of the unique app that’s solely out there in sure nations).
CapCut
CapCut is a free video-editing device, optimized for vertical movies that may be posted on TikTok. It’s typically the app of alternative for newbie creators, on account 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 recognized 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 grasp 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 device with a heavy deal with generative AI instruments. It makes use of AI to assist customers improve picture high quality or remodel a photograph right into a cartoon.
Lark
Lark is a Slack-like workspace communications app. Initially created for ByteDance’s personal inside messages amongst workers, it has now turn out to be one of many most-used workplace communications apps in China, with a number of million energetic customers.
Melolo, Fizzo, MyTopia Books
Poligon, a Singapore-based subsidiary of ByteDance, publishes a number of apps that permit customers to look at 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 one way or the other stays out there on Apple’s US App Retailer.
Tokopedia
Tokopedia is considered one 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 out there on Google’s US Play Retailer as of publication.
