TikTok Goes Dark in the U.S. as Ban Takes Effect but Trump’s Intervention Brings App Back Online
TikTok went offline for users in the U.S. on Saturday night, hours before the controversial ban on the popular Chinese-owned app was officially set to take effect. A message appeared when people tried to enter the application, saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” followed by an explanation that the U.S. government had enacted a law banning the app. It also mentioned that President-elect Donald Trump would work on a solution to reinstate TikTok after he assumed office.
Also Read
Donald Trump (President Elect of USA) Officially Sentenced in Hush-money Case
Nigerian Gospel Singer Jumbo Aniebeit to Perform at Trump’s Inaugural Ball
The announcement came just weeks before the law signed by President Joe Biden in April went into full effect, which would have forced TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner or face a complete shutdown in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law on Friday, paving the way for the temporary ban of the app.
Eventually, Apple and Google did: the platform was taken out of U.S. app stores, and it became un-downloadable by new users. Other applications from ByteDance include CapCut, Lemon8, and Gauth, all of which flashed the same notice to become inaccessible to many users in the U.S.
But the TikTok ban marked a monumental moment with the application boasting upwards of 170 million active U.S. users, particularly among young Americans. From the undetermined ban to an unexpected twist, early Sunday morning saw TikTok pop back online.
In a shocking plot twist, President-elect Trump weighed in and promised an executive order to reverse the ban by Monday and allow TikTok once again to be accessible in the U.S. Indeed, later that day when users opened the app, this is what they saw: “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
Also Read
Donald Trump (President Elect of USA) Officially Sentenced in Hush-money Case
Nigerian Gospel Singer Jumbo Aniebeit to Perform at Trump’s Inaugural Ball
Although the app itself was accessible once more, many users found that TikTok remained unavailable for redownload in both the Apple and Google app stores. On Apple’s website, a message stated: “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you’re in,” while Google Play indicated that downloads for the app were paused due to current U.S. legal requirements.
The sudden return of TikTok has sent shockwaves, with the company thanking Trump for the quick resolution. We also want to thank President Trump for providing the clarity and assurance our service providers need to know that they won’t face penalties for continuing to provide TikTok to over 170 million Americans and support over 7 million small businesses,” TikTok said in a statement. The company’s message was one of thanks to the incoming president for “providing clarity” to tech companies involved.
Also Read
Donald Trump (President Elect of USA) Officially Sentenced in Hush-money Case
Nigerian Gospel Singer Jumbo Aniebeit to Perform at Trump’s Inaugural Ball
Trump boasted, during his pre-inaugural rally in Washington D.C., that he had saved TikTok, saying, “Whether you like TikTok or not, we’re going to make a lot of money.” He emphasized just how important the app was to his political success, especially in getting a huge percentage of the youth vote in the last election. Trump’s comments underlined the economic and political stakes tied to TikTok’s presence in the U.S.
But the Biden White House dismissed the announcement by TikTok as a “stunt.” Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We have seen the most recent statement from TikTok. It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday.” Jean-Pierre repeated that actions to enforce the law and ban TikTok would fall to the incoming administration.
Also Read
Donald Trump (President Elect of USA) Officially Sentenced in Hush-money Case
Nigerian Gospel Singer Jumbo Aniebeit to Perform at Trump’s Inaugural Ball
The TikTok stand by Trump had long been a concern in terms of national security. As president, he vigorously pursued a ban on TikTok, claiming it was dangerous because user data could be utilized by the Chinese government. His incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz defended the president-elect’s involvement, indicating a deal brokered by Trump would pave the way for TikTok, under new ownership or with various safety measures-such as storing its data in the United States-to allow it to operate in the U.S. without exposing the country to any risks.
With TikTok back, its future in the U.S. is not yet certain. The legal and political fights over who will own and operate the app in this country are far from over. For now, U.S. users can access the app once more, but it’s unclear whether they will be able to redownload it in the future or if further action will be taken to enforce the ban.
The entire country is still waiting, watching this new administration work through what to many has become an almost impossible, three-way tug of war: national security, technology, and international trade. It waits to be seen whether TikTok will stay online for good, or whether more shutdowns lie in the future.
By Chibueze Onwuka