Several ByteDance-owned apps, including the widely popular TikTok and the digital card game Marvel Snap, were disabled and removed from app stores in the United States on Saturday night.
The action came just hours before the January 19 deadline mandated by a U.S. law requiring the Beijing-based company to divest its apps or face a complete ban.
In total, more than 10 ByteDance apps were affected by the move. Among them, Marvel Snap, developed by Second Dinner and published by ByteDance’s Nuverse division, was taken down from Apple and Google app stores. U.S. users attempting to access the game were met with a message indicating it was “temporarily unavailable.”
Second Dinner issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Unfortunately, MARVEL SNAP is temporarily unavailable in U.S. app stores and is unavailable to play in the U.S. In a surprise to Second Dinner and our publisher Nuverse, MARVEL SNAP was affected by the takedown of TikTok late on Saturday, January 18th. MARVEL SNAP isn’t going anywhere. We’re actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share.”
Apple and Google Respond to Compliance Mandate
Apple issued a statement on Saturday explaining the move, “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries , including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others, will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025.”
Apple also clarified that while users can still access previously installed apps, they will no longer be able to redownload them if deleted or transferred to a new device. The statement added: “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, and some app functions might become limited or stop working since the app can’t receive updates.”
Ban Driven by Supreme Court Ruling
The shutdown follows a unanimous Supreme Court ruling on Friday upholding the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The law imposes significant penalties, including fines of $5,000 per user per app, on companies that host or distribute ByteDance-controlled applications in the U.S.
TikTok described the shutdown as unavoidable, stating that it had been “forced” to comply with the ban due to the lack of guarantees for partners like Apple and Google to avoid heavy fines.
Trump’s Potential Extension
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump suggested that his administration may order a 90-day extension to the January 19 deadline. He said the extension would give the government time to negotiate a solution, adding that he would “most likely” approve the measure.
However, the law requires the U.S. president to certify to Congress that there are “relevant binding legal agreements” for ByteDance to divest its U.S.-based assets. As of now, no such agreements are in place.
The Broader Implications
The sudden removal of ByteDance apps cites the U.S. government’s firm stance on data security and privacy concerns linked to foreign-controlled platforms. For U.S. users, this development disrupts access to both entertainment and professional tools, with no immediate resolution in sight.
The fate of apps like TikTok and Marvel Snap remains uncertain, leaving millions of users awaiting further updates from developers and government officials alike.
