In a significant development for millions of users, TikTok has announced the resumption of its services in the United States.
Image: Jaap Arriens / NurPhoto via AFP.
Following an announcement by US President-elect Donald Trump that he will issue an executive order for reprieve on Monday when he takes office, video sharing platform TikTok has resumed its services in the country, according to the BBC.
TikTok issued a statement to its users which said that it was due to the efforts of President Trump, that TikTok is back in the US.
The platform has 170 million users in the US.
TikTok also thanked Trump for providing assurance and clarity and the platform said that they would be working with Trump on a long-term solution to keep TikTok in the US.
The US Congress in 2024 moved to force TikTok's parent company, ByteDance Ltd, to sell its stake in the app or be cut off from the US market, according to CBS News.
The law required Chinese company ByteDance sell its US operations by Sunday January 19, 20204.
This meant that the apps that were developed by the Chinese-based ByteDance Ltd as well as any of its subsidiaries would not be available for downloading or updating in America.
This also meant major app stores for Apple and Android devices would not have TikTok available for downloading.
According to Forbes, the apps that would not be able for downloading or updating include:
- TikTok
- TikTok Studio
- TikTok Shop Seller Center
- CapCut
- Lemon8
- Hypic
- Lark: Team Collaboration
- Lark: Rooms Display
- Lark Rooms Controller,
- Gauth: AI Study Companion
- Marvel Snap
On January 18, 2024, a day before TikTok went dark, the platform released a statement about the possible shutting down of the app.
TikTok said: "The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans.
"Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19."
IOL Technology
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