On Jan. 19, social media app TikTok froze as it was banned for all users in the United States.
For years prior, the app’s ban had been a topic of discussion, beginning around 2020 when President Donald Trump said the app “continued to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.” Due to the several failed attempts to ban the app, many did not believe it would meet its end on what felt like just another Saturday night.
Sophomore forensics science student Mia Zullo said “during the ban, I felt really confused. I didn’t think it was actually going to happen.” Confusion was a common sentiment shared by many others online.
Following the shock of users, TikTok greeted them with a message after its official shut down that said “We’re working to restore our service in the U.S as soon as possible, and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned.”
TikTok made it clear to not lose hope, delivering users another message stating their gratitude to President Trump for helping “reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”
Trump, who had a previous dislike for the app, said, according to reporters, that he got used to the app, in response to his change of heart. “TikTok is largely about kids, young kids. If China is going to get information about young kids, I don’t know. To be honest with you, I think we have bigger problems than that,” Trump said.
With 15.1 million followers, Trump previously used the app to connect towards younger voters during the 2024 election, posting videos such as clips from his rallies to gain support. He signed an executive order on Jan. 20 which halted the app’s ban for 75 days. The app is required to sell its U.S. assets if it wishes to continue operating past its 75 day grace period.
For less than 24 hours, the app was shut down on American servers. The following Sunday, they suddenly came back up. The app greeted users with a welcome back message thanking them for their patience and once more thanking Trump for his efforts in restoring the platform.
“Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all things you love on TikTok,” the message said.
Initial thoughts questioning the reasons behind the ban were commonly shared by students, some expressing confusion as to why banning the app was such a top priority for the U.S. government. Some left their own concerns for those who used the app as a source of income.
“Imagine if they really did stick through with it and made it permanent. It could’ve really messed up some people’s lives,” said sophomore forensics science student Amarah Malcolm.
Some had personal reasons of concern, specifically influencers who rely on TikTok as their source of income. Zullo said how she was “losing that stream,” in relation to the app’s shut down and it affecting the income she made from it.
Another major topic of discussion was Trump and reactions to his help in restoring the app.
Zullo said how she viewed Trump’s actions as a “big PR move,” and she wasn’t the only one who expressed their thoughts on the matter.
Sophomore health science student, Sibela Doci said she remembers feeling scared seeing the message of President Trump working to fix the app. She said how she “knew he did it on purpose to get some points with the youth.”
TikTok is now available again in the United States, with the exception of those who deleted the app, for it has yet to appear back in Apple and Google App Stores in America. It is unclear when it will return, but for now current users can continue using the app. The major area of concern for now is the inability to update it through the app stores. According to The New York Times this could cause the app to “degrade over time.” The future of the app remains in discussion. Trump’s executive order grants it more time to be bought, names like CEO of Tesla and Spacex Elon Musk and co-founder of Oracle Larry Ellison being mentioned as potential buyers.