For a whopping 12 hours, highschoolers’ worst dream came true. Around 9 p.m. Jan. 19, TikTok was unavailable due to a nationwide ban. This did not last long though, and the app was back up and running the next morning. While many were relieved with Tiktok’s quick comeback, others were skeptical about how it was able to be salvaged so quickly. So, what really happened with Tiktok?
Plans to ban TikTok were originally introduced in 2020 in response to a executive order by President Trump. The app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which is believed to be taking the information of American users and being used by the Chinese government. Congress went back and forth on the issue until ultimately deciding on it March of 2024.
TikTok did in fact go dark Jan. 19 2025, but was back the next day with a pop-up reading, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”. This caused an array of confusion, as Trump had not been inaugurated yet.
According to CNN, TikTok responded on social media saying, “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.”
While it seems like President Trump executive saved TikTok, many are curious about how accurate the information we are receiving about regarding the new terms of TikTok, as well as the longevity of this solution. Be as it may, the beloved app will certainly not be leaving again without a fight.