In an unexpected twist, TikTok was temporarily shut down in the United States, causing major disruptions for millions of users. However, the social media giant has quickly announced that it is working to restore its services and regain user access.
TikTok’s Policy X account shared an update on Sunday afternoon, stating: “In coordination with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.” The message also acknowledged President Trump’s role in providing clarity and assurance to service providers, stating, “We thank President Trump for helping ensure there are no penalties for offering TikTok to over 170 million Americans, enabling more than seven million small businesses to thrive. It’s a victory for the First Amendment and against unnecessary censorship.”
The disruption began shortly before Sunday, when TikTok became inaccessible in the US, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a law banning the platform due to concerns about its Chinese ownership. When users attempted to access TikTok, they were met with a message that read: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
The message continued: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S., meaning you can’t access the platform for now. However, we’re optimistic that President Trump will work with us on a solution to bring TikTok back once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” Additionally, TikTok was removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The shutdown came after a Supreme Court decision on Friday that upheld legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app by January 19 or face removal from US app stores and hosting services. TikTok challenged the law, arguing that a sale wasn’t feasible, but the Court ruled unanimously against them.
On Sunday, incoming President Donald Trump took to social media to announce his support for TikTok, promising to restore the platform. He posted “SAVE TIKTOK” and pledged to issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline for compliance with the law. Trump reassured that no penalties would be imposed on companies helping to keep TikTok running while the issue is addressed.
He also expressed his desire for the US to have a 50% ownership stake in TikTok, stating, “This way, we save TikTok, keep it in trustworthy hands, and ensure it stays operational. Without US approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it could be worth hundreds of billions, even trillions.”
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
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…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025