TikTok Tiktoks ended when the app’s countdown ended in the US Early on January 19, the popular video app went dark.

The suspension has left me (and millions of other users) in shock when they were greeted with the message, “Sorry, TikTok is not available right now” or an image that I can’t delete. I don’t know what my 418 followers have done now. Interestingly, the project is a drama of the moment, where the suspension came after the Supreme Court of the United States rejected the appeal of the Chinese company TikTok, ByteDance, and upheld the law passed by Congress last year, which required ByteDance, to stop TikTok or face a ban.

The law was driven by national security concerns, and fears that the Chinese government could use TikTok to collect information about American users. Various politicians familiar with the intelligence reports said it was true that the Chinese government was using TikTok for spying.

But Donald Trump has signed that he will not lift the ban and will allow people to stay for 90 days. Meanwhile, various parties are gathering to finance the purchase of the facility.

TikTok has announced that it will voluntarily shut down its operations rather than risk being forcibly removed from app stores and hosting services. The director of the company, Chew Chewposted a video thanking users and promising to work hard to restore TikTok. Unfortunately, the video is no longer available. “This is not the end, but a new beginning,” he said with determination.

The suspension sparked a debate among TikTok users to move to other social media sites where they mourn the loss of their favorite app. Many expressed their frustration and disappointment, while others shared their favorite moments of TikTok, and others even started an online petition to bring the app back. I posted my last CES 2025 videos there.

One of the most famous is Oracle, the Silicon Valley giant known for its computer services. Oracle saw the acquisition as a good way to increase its appeal in the consumer market and gain access to TikTok’s technology. Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, participated in the discussion, emphasizing the importance of data security and transparency.

Microsoft, another big rival, had a different vision for TikTok. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, believes that combining TikTok and Microsoft’s existing assets can create a powerful ecosystem. They see TikTok as a platform for learning, virtual reality, and more, attracting more audiences than entertainment.

Businesses also entered the fray, looking at the possibility of turning TikTok into an independent entity. The Blackstone Group, one of the world’s largest financial firms, planned to buy ByteDance and make TikTok work with more money for privacy and security. Their plan included appointing an independent agency to oversee operations and ensure compliance with US law.

Venture capitalists also saw TikTok as a gold mine. Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz were among the firms interested in backing the deal to acquire ByteDance. He believes that with proper management and investment, TikTok can continue to grow and dominate the social media landscape.

The move by President-elect Trump to allow the process to continue for another 90 days was seen as a way to support TikTok.

“We are committed to protecting American interests and promoting innovation and growth,” Trump said at a press conference.

Other advertisers calling for TikTok include Frank McCourt and his Internet Advocacy Group. The billionaire and his online support group have proposed to buy ByteDance. McCourt, known as the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, wants to reinvent TikTok and give users control over their digital information and data.

Legendary Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary also joined other investors to form a group that has secured more than $20 billion in pledges. Their focus is on transparency and data privacy.

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has also taken steps to buy TikTok. Shortly after Congress overturned the ban, Mnuchin announced the formation of an investment group to buy the company. And even Mr. Beast said that he talked to some billionaires to give money.