US TikTok Users Face Censorship After Play Store Download Restricted

The popular social media app TikTok has been at the center of controversy after a Supreme Court ruling deemed a law forcing the app's sale to be constitutional, sparking panic among creators and users, and resulting in restrictions on the app's availability for download from Apple or Google's play store.

The app's US services were briefly suspended for 38 hours, leaving many feeling uneasy, before suddenly returning to life. However, the move may only be temporary, and new users are still unable to download the app from the play store. TikTok's CEO, Shou Chew, confirmed that the app had been fighting to protect free speech, but uncertainty remains.

US TikTok users have reported seeing signs of censorship after the platform's revival under a new law that requires it to be sold to a US buyer. Users claim they are seeing fewer live streams, activity being removed or flagged at higher rates, and content moderation increased, including limits on search results and warnings about misinformation. Some users say comments are being struck that used phrases like "Free Palestine" and "Free Luigi", which were previously allowed.

The issue comes as President Trump signed an executive order aiming to restore freedom of speech and end censorship, specifically referring to social media platforms. The move has sparked concerns of targeted censorship based on identity or previous content, with some users claiming they are getting flagged for comments unrelated to politics.

The situation remains uncertain, with TikTok stating that its policies and algorithms did not change over the weekend, despite user reports of increased censorship. As the app's future hangs in the balance, users and creators are left wondering what's next for the popular social media platform, and whether they will be able to continue to download and use the app from the play store.