The U.S. TikTok ban officially took effect on today, leaving one of the world’s most popular short-form video apps inaccessible to American users. However, TikTok is not the only ByteDance-owned platform impacted. Apps such as Lemon8, CapCut, and Marvel Snap have also gone dark, signaling a broader restriction targeting the Chinese company that some U.S. officials deem a national security threat.
ByteDance Apps Vanish from App Stores
The TikTok ban prohibits internet hosting services and app stores from distributing ByteDance-owned apps. As a result, TikTok, CapCut, and others were removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Although users who already downloaded these apps can retain them, they are likely non-functional. Updates, in-app purchases, and new subscriptions are also unavailable, further rendering the apps ineffective over time.
TikTok now displays a message explaining its unavailability: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok for now. We hope to work on a solution.” Similarly, the CapCut ban is confirmed on the app’s website, which reassures users that efforts to restore services are underway.
What Are Lemon8, CapCut, and Other Banned Apps?
Lemon8, launched in 2023, is a lifestyle-based social media platform blending features of TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Despite its growing popularity, the platform is now inaccessible in the U.S., and its website confirms this restriction.
CapCut, a free video-editing software introduced in 2020, is another prominent casualty of the TikTok ban. Once popular among creators for its robust tools, CapCut now displays a message about the service suspension, with developers expressing hope for a resolution.
Marvel Snap, a digital card game with Marvel characters, was developed by Nuverse, a ByteDance subsidiary. The game’s website now states it is “unavailable in your country or region.”
Other ByteDance platforms affected include:
- Gauth: An AI-powered education app offering calculators, essay-writing tools, and live tutoring.
- Hypic: An AI photo editor with advanced editing tools.
- Lark: A business collaboration tool for messaging and document sharing.
While some apps remain semi-operational, most users face severe limitations, as updates and compatibility issues make these platforms difficult to use.
Impact of the TikTok Ban on U.S. Users
For users with existing installations of banned apps, their devices will retain the applications, but functionalities like updates and compatibility with new devices are restricted. Those who delete these apps or switch to new devices will find them irretrievable due to their removal from app stores.
In addition, international visitors to the U.S. cannot access these banned apps, as local restrictions override their app store settings. ByteDance users regaining access after leaving the U.S. underscores the ban’s geographic enforcement.
What Lies Ahead?
The TikTok ban and associated restrictions on apps like CapCut and Lemon8 are part of U.S. efforts to limit ByteDance’s influence over American users. The ban has sparked debates over cybersecurity, privacy, and its broader implications for global app usage. ByteDance has yet to announce whether its services will resume in the U.S. or explore legal action against the legislation.
As discussions on data privacy and national security evolve, the fate of TikTok, CapCut, and similar platforms in the U.S. remains uncertain.