ByteDance Apps Go Dark in the U.S. Amid TikTok Ban
The uncertainty surrounding the potential restrictions on TikTok has now broadened to include other applications under its parent company, ByteDance. As TikTok ceased operations over the weekend, several other ByteDance-related apps also went offline in the United States. This includes significant platforms like CapCut, a favored video editing application; Lemon8, a social media site; and Marvel Snap, which is experiencing its own set of troubles.
Ben Brode, Chief Development Officer at Second Dinner—the studio behind Marvel Snap—expressed their surprise over being affected by these developments in a message shared via Threads. Brode assured users that they are actively seeking solutions to restore service as swiftly as possible.
Second Dinner reiterated this sentiment on X and through an internal notification to players by stating that “MARVEL SNAP isn’t going anywhere.” It’s important to note that while Marvel Snap originates from a U.S.-based developer, it falls under Nuverse Games—a subsidiary of ByteDance—which has been impacted by this legislation.
The Impact on Popular Apps
The suspension of CapCut and Lemon8 may not come as a total surprise given their direct connection to ByteDance; however, many users expected them to remain unaffected due to the law’s specific focus on TikTok. CapCut is extensively utilized for video editing tasks by creators who produce content across various social media platforms. Meanwhile, Lemon8 saw an influx of new users when many turned away from TikTok; just days prior to the ban announcements, it was recognized as one of the top two applications available on the App Store.
User Experience Alterations
An updated support page from Apple clarified some effects these app closures could have on existing users: “If you have any of these applications installed currently,” Apple stated, “they will persist on your device but you won’t be able to reinstall them if deleted or restore them when switching devices.” In-app purchases or new subscriptions will also no longer be accessible while updates for these apps are suspended altogether.
In addition to those previously mentioned—TikTok itself along with CapCut and Lemon8—Apple identified additional apps such as Lark for workplace collaboration and Hypic for AI-based photo editing that have similarly faced removal due in part because of this ruling. It remains uncertain how many more non-listed applications may experience similar fates moving forward.
Legal Obligations Under New Legislation
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