TikTok has returned to the Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. following a delay in the enforcement of a potential ban by former President Donald Trump. The app, owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, had been removed from the app stores on January 18 to comply with a law that mandated ByteDance either sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban.
With more than 170 million users in America, TikTok had temporarily suspended its services in the U.S. for one day. However, it resumed operations after Trump assured that the ban would be postponed. During the suspension, many users switched to RedNote, a Chinese social media platform, referring to themselves as “TikTok refugees.”
After nearly a month, TikTok was made available for download again on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the U.S. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order pushing the deadline for enforcing a ban on TikTok until April 5.
TikTok has faced ongoing issues in the U.S. due to concerns over its Chinese ownership. The U.S. government argues that the app’s access to the personal data of millions of American users poses a potential national security threat.
TikTok has denied accusations that it shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government and argues that the law requiring it to either sell or be banned infringes on the First Amendment rights of its American users.
During Donald Trump’s presidency, he initially supported banning TikTok but later softened his stance, saying he developed a “warm spot” for the app. TikTok CEO Shou Chew attended Trump’s inauguration.
Trump suggested that TikTok could have joint ownership, with half of it being American-owned. Potential buyers for the app include real estate magnate Frank McCourt, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and famous YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast.