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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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Video-sharing app TikTok wasn't the only platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance that went offline in the U.S. on Sunday.
Several other apps, including the photo-sharing app Lemon8, are no longer available for U.S. users following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Newsweek has contacted ByteDance for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The banning of TikTok over national security concerns tied to its parent company ByteDance has sparked debate over the potential impact on free speech for its 170 million users in the U.S.
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What To Know
In April 2024, Congress voted to enforce a ban on TikTok over fears that ByteDance has links to the Chinese government.
On Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) ruling that TikTok would be banned unless ByteDance sold the app by Sunday.
TikTok began blocking access late Saturday night. When U.S. users try to open the app, they receive a message stating TikTok is "fortunate" that President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he will work on the ban once he enters office on Monday.
Trump recently told NBC News he is considering granting TikTok a 90-day extension to allow the app to continue operating.
Several other apps operated by ByteDance have also been removed following the Supreme Court decision, according to Wired and Apple. These include TikTok subsidiaries TikTok Studio and TikTok Shop Seller Center.
Full List of Other Apps That Have Gone Dark
- CapCut: A video-editing app allowing users to create and edit videos before posting them on TikTok.
- Lemon8: A lifestyle and social media platform focusing on photo and video content, which has grown in popularity amid TikTok's potential ban.
- Gauth: An app that uses artificial intelligence to help students with homework and provide productivity tips.
- Hypic: A photo-editing application with a focus on AI technology.
- Lark: A workplace messaging and collaboration app similar to Slack, widely used in China.
- Melolo: A short-form video streaming app featuring drama content, available in Southeast Asia and run by Poligon, a ByteDance subsidiary based in Singapore.
- Fizzo: An e-book reading platform also operated by Poligon.
- Tokopedia: A popular online shopping platform in Indonesia.
- Marvel Snap: The superhero card game has been removed from Apple's App Store, Apple confirmed.
What People Are Saying
TikTok message to U.S. users: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!"
President-elect Donald Trump said on NBC News' Meet the Press on Saturday: "I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. You know, it's appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It's a very big situation."
Apple statement on its website: "If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can't be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible.
"Users in the United States won't receive updates for these apps, which could potentially impact performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS. Some app functions might become limited or stop working since the app can't receive updates."
What Happens Next
Trump told NBC News said he will "probably" make an announcement regarding TikTok on Monday, shortly after his inauguration.
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