It has been reported that TikTok has returned to the Google Play Store and App Store in the US. According to NBC News, officials from Google and Apple expressed that TikTok has been reinstated to both stores after being temporarily blocked on January 19th. Those in the US without the TikTok app on their phones can now download it from these platforms. Users who already had the app on their phones were still able to use TikTok after the access block was lifted. However, since January 19th, users in the US were unable to download the app from Google Play Store and App Store. President Donald Trump had stated that the suspension of the law predicting the ban of TikTok in the US if not sold to an American company could be extended beyond the initial 75 days.

WHY WAS TIKTOK BANNED?
TikTok was shut down on January 19th under a law predicting a ban in the US if not sold to an American company, only to be reopened on the same day. Upon taking office, Donald Trump signed an executive order containing instructions to suspend the enforcement of this law for 75 days. Trump clarified that he was not in favor of banning TikTok, but he demanded that 50% of it be transferred to an American company for the ban to be lifted, stating, “We have the right to sell or shut down TikTok. We will decide on this. China’s approval is also needed, but I am sure they will approve. If not, we will impose tariffs on China.” Due to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, being a registered firm in China, it is obliged by local laws to share user data with the government when necessary.