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TikTok Ban In US: TikTok appears to be coming back online just hours after President-elect Donald Trump pledged to restore the banned app.
TikTok appears to come back online amid ban on the app | Image/File
TikTok Ban In US: After going dark in the United States for almost a day, TikTok appears to be coming back online for some users, local media reported.
It comes after President-elect Donald Trump pledged that he would sign an executive order today that aims to restore the ban on a widely popular video-sharing app.
Around 12 hours after first shutting itself down, some users began to have access to TikTok on a web browser and in the app, although the page still showed a warning about the shutdown.
The sudden move to restore the app followed TikTok becoming inaccessible to Americans late Saturday night. Users attempting to open the app were greeted with a message stating it was offline and advising them to “stay tuned.”
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” TikTok’s message read in part. The app was also unavailable on the Apple and Google Play stores, along with Lemon8 and CapCut, which are also owned by TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance.
The restoration of TikTok will be welcome news for its 170 million American users, many of whom spend hours on the app daily for news, entertainment, and community—and, in some cases, to earn a living—following weeks of uncertainty.
TikTok Releases Statement
In an official statement, TikTok said, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” it added.
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
Trump On TikTok’s Future In US
The federal law banning TikTok allows the sitting president to extend Sunday’s deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress. But no clear buyers have emerged, and ByteDance previously said it would not sell TikTok.
Trump told NBC News on Saturday that if decides to grand such an extension, it would “probably” be announced Monday after he is sworn in as president. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a prime seating location.
Chew posted a video late Saturday thanking Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the US and a “strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship”.
It comes after TikTok appealed to Trump in its pop-up message on the app starting late Saturday night notifying users that the app was unavailable in the United States.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the company posted in its pop-up message. “Please stay tuned!”
