The popular social media platform, TikTok, announced its revival in the United States, following a declaration by President-elect Donald Trump. The President-elect stated that he planned to restore the app’s access in the country upon his return to power.
The Chinese-owned platform, in a message to its users, expressed, “TikTok is back in the U.S. thanks to President Trump’s efforts.” This restoration came after numerous reports from U.S. users who were able to access the service’s website. The comeback of the TikTok app was also noted with limited basic services.
TikTok, in its statement, also expressed gratitude towards Trump for ensuring clarity and assurance to its service providers. The app reassured that they will not face any penalties for providing their services to over 170 million Americans and helping more than 7 million small businesses thrive.
The functioning of TikTok in the U.S. was abruptly stopped before a law, citing national security concerns, came into effect. U.S. officials had previously raised concerns about the misuse of American user data by the Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
President Trump expressed his intention to extend the time before the law’s prohibitions come into effect, aiming to strike a deal to safeguard national security. He also expressed his desire for the U.S. to hold a 50% ownership position in a joint venture and assured that no liability will befall any company that assists in keeping TikTok active before his order.
Trump previously hinted at granting TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after his inauguration, a claim that TikTok acknowledged in a notice to its users.
Despite the ban, TikTok expressed optimism, informing users about President Trump’s intention to work out a solution to reinstate the platform once he takes power. This marks a significant shift from Trump’s initial stance in 2020, where he sought to ban the app over data privacy concerns.
Trump’s recent sentiments towards TikTok reflect a change, partly attributed to the app’s role in helping him secure young voters in the 2024 election. Despite opposition from some members of Trump’s Republican Party, the incoming administration has broad authority to ban or seek the sale of other Chinese-owned apps.
With the future of TikTok uncertain, users and businesses have been seeking alternatives. TikTok’s competitors, Meta and Snap, have seen a surge in their share prices as investors anticipate an influx of users and advertising dollars.
As the U.S. prepares for the possible return of TikTok, potential investors, such as former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, have shown interest in the rapidly growing business, which analysts estimate could be worth up to $50 billion.
