- The app went dark following a law passing that banned it
- President elect Donald Trump said he opposed the ban
- He will work with TikTok to find a solution
TikTok went dark in a rather dramatic fashion on Saturday evening, but it only lasted 14 hours before being restored.
Read more: TikTok users share reactions to app going dark
The law banning it came into force yesterday, which came about due to concerns over national security.
Users opening the app found this message: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”
Around 14 hours later, the app began working for its 170 million US users again.
In a statement, the company thanked Trump for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” and said it would work with him once he takes office “on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States”.
Trump’s intervention
Although Trump was the architect of the TikTok ban, his position has since changed.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration today (January 20).
It’s unclear currently what legal authority Trump would have given that the law’s now taken effect. However, it may be that his government won’t enforce the ban if he issues an executive order.
He added: “The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”
At the same time, the law does include a provision that would allow the president to postpone the ban for up to 90 days, if there is proof that TikTok owners ByteDance are making substantial progress on alleviating national security issues. This would also apply if they were looking to sell to a non-Chinese operator.
Why does Trump not want a TikTok ban?
Although he supported a ban at first, Trump later changed his stance because he has gained the support of younger voters on TikTok.
In December, he said at a press conference: “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth [in the 2024 election] by 34 points. And there are those who say TikTok has something to do with it.”
Some have also wondered if Trump pledging to contest the ban is a way of trying to appeal to younger people.
