After a brief hiatus, TikTok is back online in the United States. The popular social media platform announced on Sunday that it was restoring its services following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump promised to issue an executive order extending the timeline before a potential ban takes effect, which will allow TikTok to remain accessible while negotiations for a long-term solution continue.
The ban, originally scheduled to take effect on January 19, 2025, was part of a law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024. This law required TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform to a U.S. company or face a shutdown. However, both Biden and Trump have since reversed their earlier positions on TikTok, with Trump now supporting the app’s continued operation.
In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for offering the necessary clarity and assurance to its service providers, ensuring they would not face penalties for keeping the app available. The company also thanked Trump for his support of the First Amendment and his stance against arbitrary censorship.
Although TikTok is back online, its future in the U.S. remains uncertain. The law still mandates that ByteDance sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer, and negotiations for a joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership are ongoing. Despite these challenges, TikTok users can once again enjoy their favorite videos and creators.
[…] day, President Trump continued his aggressive agenda. He signed orders to halt the enforcement of a ban on TikTok for 75 days, giving the popular social media platform a reprieve. Trump also moved to eliminate […]