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.