In a significant development for social media enthusiasts, TikTok has made its return to the app stores of both Apple and Android in the United States. This reinstatement occurred late Thursday night, marking a notable shift in the app’s availability following a tumultuous period of uncertainty.
Since the end of January, while TikTok’s service remained operational, the app itself was rendered inaccessible due to a divest-or-ban law enacted by former President Joe Biden. This legislation aimed to address national security concerns surrounding the app’s parent company, ByteDance, which is based in China. The law had prompted both Apple and Android to remove TikTok from their platforms, leading to a brief but impactful hiatus for the popular app.
Previously, TikTok had faced a temporary blackout in the U.S. leading up to January 20, only to be restored after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that postponed the ban for an additional 75 days. During that time, discussions emerged about potential acquisitions, with figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison being mentioned as possible buyers. However, Musk later clarified that he had no intention of purchasing TikTok, preferring to focus on building companies from the ground up.
Despite the challenges, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, engaged in a prolonged legal battle against the divest-or-ban law, which culminated in a Supreme Court ruling on January 17 that upheld the ban. Following this ruling, Apple and Android swiftly reinstated TikTok, with Android confirming the app’s return shortly thereafter. Apple also removed a page listing the ByteDance apps that had been taken down, signaling a clean slate for the platform.
Rivals and Upstarts Pounce
The aftermath of TikTok’s removal saw a surge in secondhand sales, with sellers on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace listing used iPhones at inflated prices, touting them as devices pre-installed with TikTok. This trend highlighted the app’s immense popularity and the lengths to which users would go to access it.
In a strategic move, Meta-owned Instagram announced the upcoming launch of a new video editing application called Edits, set to debut on March 13. This application is positioned as a direct competitor to TikTok and CapCut, underscoring the competitive landscape that has emerged in TikTok’s absence. Additionally, Pinterest has been actively courting advertisers from TikTok, further illustrating the ripple effects of the app’s temporary unavailability.
During the brief period without TikTok, users explored alternative platforms, gravitating towards apps like Clapper and the Chinese application RedNote, which sought to fill the void left by TikTok’s absence. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, the return of TikTok marks a pivotal moment for both users and competitors alike.
