TikTok is back online in the US after the social media app went dark early Sunday due to a new law banning the app that took effect at midnight. The Chinese-owned service welcomed users back after a 12-hour shutdown, with many Americans now able to access the app. In an alert, TikTok stated, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US.” Starting late Saturday, US TikTok users were shown a message indicating the app wasn’t available, citing the new law.
TikTok announced it was in the process of restoring access to its US audience, crediting incoming President Donald Trump. “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 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the company stated.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump reiterated his plan to issue a reprieve once he takes office. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security,” Trump posted. “The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”
Trump also mentioned he would like to see TikTok with 50% American ownership.
TikTok’s statement followed roughly two hours later, mentioning the incoming president’s name and indicating they are seeking a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. On its website, TikTok advised old users they could still log in to download their data.
tiktok service restored after brief outage
The message was later updated to read: “We’re working hard to resolve this issue. Thank you for your patience.” By Sunday afternoon, TikTok notified users, “You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
Access to TikTok began getting cut off for some US users about 90 minutes before the new law took effect late Saturday. The app was also unavailable via Apple’s App Store in the hours leading up to midnight.
Videos intermittently loaded on TikTok for a time, but the app also showed a blacked-out screen indicating network issues. The law resulting in TikTok’s shutdown doesn’t outright ban the app but prohibits users from accessing the platform through app stores unless ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, sells itself to an owner not controlled by a country the US considers adversarial. Congress has accused ByteDance of having close ties to the Chinese government and alleges that the Chinese Communist Party could force the company to provide it with information on US users or spread propaganda.
Despite Trump’s assurances, companies such as Apple and Google may not comply without further legal clarity, as each instance of non-compliance could result in a fine of $5,000 every time a user accesses the social media app. Trump will either have to convince Congress to overturn the ban or find another way to work around it if he wants to keep the service up and running. Should TikTok’s ban eventually come to pass, Meta (the parent company of Instagram), Reddit, and other social media platforms could seize the removed market share and advertising dollars.
Meta-owned Instagram stands to particularly benefit, potentially capturing 60% to 70% of TikTok’s advertising spend. The ongoing situation between TikTok, the incoming Trump administration, and lawmakers will remain under close scrutiny with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expected to attend inauguration events on Monday.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
