You’ve probably seen the countdowns. Maybe a frantic creator on your FYP is weeping about "the end" or telling you to follow them on Clapper or Reels before the lights go out. It feels like we’ve been here a dozen times before, right? The "is TikTok getting banned today" question has become a recurring nightmare for the 170 million Americans who use the app.
But honestly, the answer today, January 16, 2026, is a lot more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no."
We aren't in 2024 anymore. We aren't even in early 2025, when the Supreme Court actually upheld the federal law that should have killed the app. Right now, we are in a weird, legally hazy limbo where the law says TikTok is banned, but the President says it isn't.
The short answer you're looking for
If you open the app right now, it will work. It isn't going dark today.
While the original deadline set by the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) was way back in January 2025, the ban has been kicked down the road so many times the "deadline" has lost its teeth. As of this morning, President Trump has used executive orders to push the enforcement date yet again.
The current "drop-dead" date? January 23, 2026.
That is just one week away. But don't delete your drafts just yet.
How we got into this mess
Let’s back up. Back in April 2024, Joe Biden signed a bill that basically told ByteDance: "Sell TikTok to an American company in nine months, or we pull the plug."
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ByteDance didn't sell. Instead, they sued.
They took it all the way to the Supreme Court. On January 17, 2025, the justices handed down a unanimous ruling. They said the law was constitutional. They said national security interests—specifically the fear that the Chinese government could harvest data or manipulate what you see—outweighed the First Amendment concerns of users.
The app actually went dark for about 12 hours on January 19, 2025. I remember the "Sorry, TikTok isn't available" message. It was wild.
But then Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20. He had spent his campaign promising to "save TikTok," and he wasted no time. Within hours of taking office, he signed an executive order halting the ban for 75 days. Then he did it again. And again.
The deal on the table
If you're asking if TikTok is getting banned today, you're really asking about the status of the "Trump Deal."
In December 2025, a massive $14 billion agreement was signed. The goal? Transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to a group led by American investors, including Oracle’s Larry Ellison and some heavy hitters from the Abu Dhabi royal family.
Here’s the catch: China hasn't officially given the thumbs up to the export of the algorithm.
ByteDance is in a corner.
- They want the $14 billion.
- The U.S. government (technically) still has a law on the books saying the app is illegal if owned by ByteDance.
- The Chinese government doesn't want to hand over the "secret sauce" algorithm that makes the FYP so addictive.
So, while the paperwork was signed on December 18, 2025, the actual "closing" of the deal is scheduled for January 22, 2026. That is why today is quiet. Everyone is waiting for next Thursday.
Is TikTok getting banned today in Europe?
Wait, there's a side plot. If you're reading this in London or Berlin, the vibe is different.
Today, January 16, 2026, TikTok officially started rolling out new age-verification technology across the EU. This isn't an outright ban on the app, but it is a massive crackdown.
The EU is looking at what Australia did—banning social media for kids under 16—and they're getting restless. TikTok’s new system uses AI to guess your age based on your behavior and profile. If the "robot" thinks you're under 13, you have to prove your age with a credit card or government ID, or you're out.
Basically, thousands of accounts are being purged today, but it's not the whole platform going away. It's just the end of the "wild west" for younger users in Europe.
What happens if the deal fails next week?
If January 22 comes and goes without a final signature from Beijing, we hit the cliff.
Under the law, Apple and Google would be forced to remove TikTok from the App Store and Play Store. Internet hosting services would have to stop supporting the app.
It wouldn't disappear from your phone instantly. If you have it, you can keep it. But you won't get updates. No new filters, no bug fixes, and eventually, the app will just break.
Actionable steps for creators and users
Stop panicking, but start prepping. The "is TikTok getting banned today" cycle is exhausting, but the legal reality is that the U.S. government still views the current ownership as a threat.
- Download your data: Go to Settings > Account > Download your data. It takes a few days, so do it now while the servers are stable.
- Diversify your "Link in Bio": If you only exist on TikTok, you're a digital sharecropper. Get your audience onto a newsletter or a secondary platform like YouTube or Instagram.
- Watch the January 22nd deadline: This is the real date. If the deal closes, TikTok stays. If it doesn't, expect another "emergency" executive order or a sudden App Store removal.
The drama isn't over. It’s just on a one-week intermission. Honestly, given how many times Trump has delayed this, I wouldn't be surprised if January 23rd comes and he just signs another extension. But for today? Your FYP is safe.
Keep an eye on the news coming out of the Department of Justice tomorrow. They’ve been vocal about the "illegality" of these constant delays, and a fresh court challenge could change everything by Monday.
Next Steps for You:
Check your app store for a TikTok update today. If the "Update" button is still there and functioning, the "ban" is still in the "stay" phase. You can also monitor the Federal Register for any new Executive Orders signed in the last 24 hours, as that's where the legal proof of an extension would first appear.