TikTok is back, America! Less than 24 hours after being banned, the app has returned, proving you can’t keep Gen Z’s favorite time-waster down for long. On January 18th, TikTok went dark thanks to a Supreme Court decision over national security concerns about its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Cue chaos: influencers panicked, businesses scrambled, and millions of users were left staring at their phones wondering if they’d have to download LinkedIn RedNote for entertainment.

Following some intense negotiations with President-elect Donald Trump, the app is now coming back online, giving its 170 million American users reason to celebrate and resume their endless scrolling. For an app that started with silly lip-syncing videos, TikTok has evolved into a global powerhouse. From launching careers like Addison Rae’s (who’s now starring in movies like Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving) to letting small businesses thrive, TikTok has become America’s go-to for procrastination and innovation.

From TikTok on X:

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.

It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.

The ban also affected ByteDance’s Marvel Snap, a popular digital card game, which shut down unexpectedly. It’s likely the game will follow TikTok’s lead and return soon.

So, what’s next? ByteDance might have to sell its U.S. operations, but negotiations are ongoing. In the meantime, TikTok is back in action, and America can return to its regularly scheduled scrolling. Let’s just hope this saga doesn’t turn into a Black Mirror episode.

Well, it’s official, folks—TikTok has danced its last dance in the U.S. (for now). Starting Saturday evening, millions of American users opened the app, only to be met with a pop-up saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” It’s like logging into a party, only to find the DJ’s packed up and gone home.

The blackout came just hours before a federal law banning the app took effect. TikTok was promptly removed from Apple and Google app stores, and even its website isn’t offering much comfort—except maybe the option to download your data if you’re feeling nostalgic.

The ban stems from concerns about TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and the potential for data falling into the wrong hands. The Supreme Court upheld the law on Friday, deciding that national security risks outweighed free speech claims from TikTok and its 170 million U.S. users.

Adding a twist of drama, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, issued a heartfelt thank-you video to President-elect Donald Trump, who’s pledged to “save” the platform after he takes office. A 90-day extension could be on the table, but for now, TikTok fans are stuck watching their For You Pages fade into the void.

Meanwhile, critics of the ban are calling it a heavy-handed move. One Chinese commentator even dubbed this the “darkest moment in the development of the internet.” (We get it; nobody likes being ghosted.)

For now, Americans will have to find new ways to fill their time—maybe learning a new hobby or finally finishing that book they keep putting off. But don’t delete TikTok just yet. With Trump’s potential intervention and ByteDance exploring creative solutions, this story isn’t over.

Stay tuned, because if TikTok’s taught us anything, it’s that there’s always a plot twist waiting.