New York: TikTok has been reinstated on Apple and Google’s U.S. app stores after former President Donald Trump postponed enforcement of a ban that threatened to remove the popular social media platform. The short-video app, used by nearly half of all Americans, was briefly unavailable before a law requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban came into effect on January 19.
A day later, Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days, allowing TikTok to continue operations temporarily. Despite this, Google and Apple had yet to restore the app to their stores, awaiting official assurances that they would not be penalized for hosting or distributing it.
With Trump’s directive clarifying that tech companies would not face penalties for keeping TikTok available, the app has now returned. “The latest version of our app is now available for download,” TikTok confirmed on Thursday.
TikTok returned to the US app stores of Apple and Google as President Donald Trump delayed a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app and assured the tech giants they would not be fined for distributing or maintaining it https://t.co/Slv1m2DYzc pic.twitter.com/XlYU0k2Mig
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 14, 2025
TikTok’s Popularity and National Security Concerns
TikTok was the second-most downloaded app in the U.S. in 2024, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, with more than 52 million downloads. The report noted that 52% of these downloads came from Apple’s App Store, while 48% were from Google Play.
The law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets was signed by then-President Joe Biden in April 2024, citing national security risks. U.S. officials have long voiced concerns that China could use TikTok to collect data on American users, prompting bipartisan support for legislative action.
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If enforced, the ban would mark the first time the U.S. government has blocked a major social media platform. The law also grants broad authority to restrict or force the sale of other Chinese-owned applications in the future.
Potential Buyers and Future Uncertainty
Trump stated on Thursday that the 75-day deadline for TikTok’s forced sale or ban could be extended. The uncertainty has drawn interest from potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who is among those considering acquiring TikTok’s U.S. assets. Analysts estimate the company’s value could reach as high as $50 billion.
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Trump also noted that discussions over TikTok’s purchase were ongoing, adding that a decision on the app’s future would likely be made in February.
