[pcr0]

They've banned US transactions with the company. This means TikTok can no longer publish to Play Store/App Store. Android users could sideload an APK but that's still a huge blow. Lastly a social media app operating in the US that can't sell ads to US marketers is pointless.

As an alternative, Trump proposed letting a US company buy TikTok to get around the ban. As you'd expect, TikTok's investors are looking for a sale so they don't lose their investment.

[kmonsen]

They also can’t pay staff in the us or have bank accounts. Once us banks ban someone the rest of the world (except a few like China and Russia) usually follow for fear of the ban coming to them next.