The claim: Image shows State Department message telling TikTok users to delete the app
A Jan. 18 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) includes an image with the State Department seal and what appears to be a message to TikTok users.
“TikTok Banned: According to U.S. law, you are prohibited from using TikTok,” reads the text on the image. “Please uninstall TikTok immediately.”
It was liked more than 35,000 times in less than a week.
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Our rating: Manipulated media
The image is fabricated. There is no evidence the State Department ever issued any such a message. TikTok did display messages to users regarding the U.S. ban, but none matched the statement included in the post.
TikTok’s messages mentioned Trump, not State Department
The claim came a day after the Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, in order to operate in the U.S.
The app subsequently became unavailable for users nationwide on Jan. 18. But there’s no evidence the State Department directed users to uninstall the app amid the legal battle.
There is no such message on the State Department’s website or social media channels, nor are there reports from legitimate news outlets on the department ever issuing the statement.
There was also no reference to a State Department advisory on TikTok’s website or social media accounts.
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” read the message users actually saw upon trying to access the app, as reported by USA TODAY. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”
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The ban was short-lived, however, as users regained access to TikTok the following day.
“Thanks for your patience and support,” read the message they saw upon opening the app. “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that sought to stop enforcement of the law banning TikTok for 75 days to give the administration time to flesh out a long-term solution.
USA TODAY reached out to the State Department, TikTok and the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
Our fact-check sources
- State Department, accessed Jan. 24, Facebook account
- State Department, accessed Jan. 24, Instagram account
- State Department, accessed Jan. 24, Website search
- State Department, accessed Jan. 24, X account
- TikTok, accessed Jan. 24, News
- TikTok, accessed Jan. 24, X account
- TikTok Policy, accessed Jan. 24, X account
- USA TODAY, Jan. 20, TikTok ban: Wildly addictive app goes dark Saturday as fans mourn. Will Trump save it?
- USA TODAY, Jan. 20, TikTok is back, but still missing from app stores: What happens next?
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