The Trump administration will ban video-sharing app TikTok from US app stores starting Sunday night, a move that will block Americans from downloading or updating the Chinese-owned platform over concerns it poses a national security threat.
Below are questions and answers on what this means for users, the political implications and how this will impact the companies involved.
Will current TikTok users see an immediate impact?
Initially, not much. They will not be able to download updates and may miss new features and fixes. But on November 12, the app could become slower or harder to use because American companies will be barred from providing back-end hosting services that help the app function smoothly. TikTok said in a statement Friday those changes would amount to a "ban."
How will new TikTok users be affected?
Beginning Sunday, the app will no longer be available for download from app stores in the United States, greatly reducing the number of new US users. Some may find workarounds, such as travelling to a foreign country to download the app or using a virtual private network, a US official said. Users of Apple's iPhone, for example, could reset the country settings on their phone to another country such as Canada to download TikTok, though they would need to leave their phone set to the Canadian App Store to keep the TikTok app current. Users could also still sign up and watch videos via TikTok's website, but they will not be able to post videos without the mobile application.
What are the political implications of the TikTok ban?
TikTok will not see major changes until after the election, so the issue's influence on the presidential race is unlikely to grow significantly. President Donald Trump could still be seen by some as defending US interests by threatening to ban a Chinese app, and some may see him as avoiding a decision or arranging a deal for a political ally, in Oracle Chair Larry Ellison.
What does this mean for Oracle's deal to partner with TikTok?
The ban will ramp up pressure on TikTok's owner ByteDance and potential suitors including Oracle Corp and Walmart to put together a deal that is agreeable to President Trump as soon as possible. If a deal is reached before Sunday, there is a chance new downloads will not be blocked and that TikTok can go about its business.