Over the weekend, millions of Americans suddenly lost access to TikTok. When users opened the app, they were greeted with a message saying it was offline. The message stated, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
Additionally, TikTok’s sister apps, Lemon8 and CapCut, were also removed from app stores.
Trump Brings TikTok Back
By Sunday morning, TikTok came back online. The app sent a message saying, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
TikTok thanked Trump in a statement, saying his promise gave their service providers the confidence to support the app again. They added, “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
Read more: Is Mr. Beast Buying TikTok?
A Big Relief for TikTok Users
The return of TikTok brought relief to its 170 million American users, many of whom spend hours daily using the app. This also means good news for small businesses that depend on TikTok to promote their products.
Influencer Shannon Lange shared how she felt when TikTok shut down. “I was shocked. I think I was probably in denial a little bit that it would actually just go dark.”
Trump Takes Credit
Trump alleged that his efforts saved TikTok. He posted “SAVE TIKTOK!” on his Truth Social and claimed that TikTok got him the youth vote. He hinted at a possible future for the app that could see an arrangement with the U.S. to co-own TikTok.
The Law That Caused the Shutdown
The shutdown happened because of a law that banned TikTok in the U.S. over security concerns. Congress passed the law with strong bipartisan support. It required ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company or face a ban.
Trump’s plan is to delay the ban and find a new owner for TikTok. However, experts say this might not be easy.
TikTok’s Future is Still Unclear
Even though TikTok is back, the problem is still not resolved. Certain lawmakers want the app to be banned until ByteDance is completely separated from it.
TikTok has resisted selling the app. Its powerful algorithm is its secret weapon, making it hard to price and sell. While some potential buyers, including Elon Musk and MrBeast, have expressed their interest, nothing is confirmed yet.
Users React to the Shutdown
The brief shutdown hit TikTok users hard. Many people use TikTok to connect with others, especially during the pandemic.
Influencer Alix Earle, with almost 8 million followers, said in a tearful video, “I feel like I’m going through heartbreak. This platform is more than an app or a job to me.”
When TikTok returned, Shannon Lange posted a happy video. She wrote, “Longest 13 hours of my life and I was sleeping for 9 of them.”
For now, TikTok is safe. But its future depends on finding a permanent solution. Either Congress must change the law, or ByteDance must sell the app. Until then, TikTok’s place in the U.S. remains uncertain.
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