TikTok pulled itself offline Saturday night, only to return early Sunday in what’s turning into one of the strangest chapters of social media history. Users got a message saying the app was banned due to new U.S. laws, but the reality is a bit more complicated.
Tiktok has adjusted their closing message pic.twitter.com/FcnG3BfAcl
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) January 19, 2025
The app chose to shut down ahead of the January 19 deadline, even though Biden’s administration had said they’d leave enforcement up to Trump’s incoming team. When it came back online just 12 hours later, TikTok credited Trump with saving the platform. Pretty convenient timing, considering Trump was actually the first to push for banning it during his previous presidency. Now he gets to play hero instead.
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
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…
The whole thing feels orchestrated for maximum political impact. TikTok’s CEO is heading to Trump’s inauguration tomorrow, the company’s praising him as their savior, and Trump gets to look like he fixed a problem (that he started in the first place). Meanwhile, nothing’s actually changed – TikTok still needs to either sell to a U.S. company or face a ban.
The temporary shutdown affected all 170 million U.S. users, and the app’s still not available in Apple or Google’s stores. While service is mostly restored, we’re really just hitting pause on the bigger question of TikTok’s future in America. Trump’s promising a 90-day extension to work something out, but that’s just kicking the can down the road.
This probably won’t be the last twist in TikTok’s story. The next 90 days should tell us whether there’s a real solution coming or if this was all just political theater. For now, though, users can get back to their regular scrolling – at least until the next update in this drama unfolds.
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