Update, January 19 2025, 2:06PM ET: After shutting down its app and delisting from various app stores about 12 hours ago, TikTok is now in the process of restoring services in the US. This story talks about the latest changes in this changing situation; Below is the original text of this report.
It was unclear in the lead-up to TikTok’s ban what the fate of parent company ByteDance’s other apps would be, but now we know: it’s blacked out in the US as well. Meanwhile, TikTok went offline this weekend, as did other apps ByteDance has built or is connected to, including popular video editing tool CapCut, social media platform Lemon8 and Marvel Snap. All are now showing messages to US users that their services are unavailable. Ben Brode, Chief Human Development Officer Marvel Snap developer Second Dinner, wrote in Threads that being stuck in the ban “surprised us” and that the team is working to get it back online.
The Second Dinner echoed this on X and its mid-program message to users, adding, “MARVEL SNAP is not going anywhere.” While Marvel Snap developed by a US-based developer, its publisher Nuverse Games is a subsidiary of ByteDance. Other Nuverse games seem to be affected as well.
CapCut and Lemon8 may be rare victims, both developed by ByteDance, but given the law on TikTok only as a target, their ban will still come as a shock to many users. CapCut is widely used for video editing, especially among social media creators. And many TikTok users looking for an alternative due to the ban have flocked to Lemon8; a few days ago, Lemon8 was the second most popular app on the App Store.
On a new support page listing some of the affected apps, Apple notes, “If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will stay on your device. But they cannot be downloaded again if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new registrations are no longer possible.” These apps will not receive updates.
Along with TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8 and Marvel SnapApple names Lark, Hypic – an AI image editing tool – and Gauth: AI Study Companion as apps that have been removed due to the ban. But there are many others that are not listed that may be swept away as well.
“Apple is responsible for following the laws in the areas where it operates,” Apple said in a statement on its support page. “Pursuant to the Protection of Americans from Applications Controlled by Foreign Enemies Act, applications developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries – including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others – will no longer be available for download or update on the App Store for users in the United States beginning January 19, 2025.”
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