Apple and Google have reinstated TikTok on their app stores in the United States, almost a month after removing it due to a national security law that led to its ban in the country. Alongside TikTok, other apps owned by its parent company, ByteDance, including the video editor CapCut and social media platform Lemon8, have also been restored.
The legal battle behind the ban
Concerns over ByteDance’s Chinese ownership have long been central to discussing TikTok’s security risks. Last year, former US President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations to a company not owned by a Chinese entity by January 19, 2025, or face a complete ban.
This law imposed strict financial penalties on app store operators that failed to comply. Despite ByteDance’s legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling on January 17. In response, Apple and Google removed TikTok and its associated apps from their US stores to avoid potential penalties.
However, when Donald Trump returned to office on January 20, he signed an executive order delaying the ban, granting ByteDance an additional 75 days to find a buyer. This move temporarily postponed law enforcement, allowing TikTok to resume operations. Service providers, including Oracle, restored their services to the app, yet Apple and Google remained cautious, delaying TikTok’s return to their stores due to legal uncertainties surrounding the penalties.
TikTok’s return and future uncertainty
For weeks, US users who had uninstalled TikTok could not download it again, though those who already had the app installed could continue using it without interruption. With the app officially reinstated, new users and those who previously deleted TikTok can reaccess it.
While the delay has given ByteDance additional time, uncertainty remains about the app’s long-term presence in the US. Trump has suggested an alternative to an outright ban: creating a joint venture where the US government could own a 50% stake in TikTok alongside other tech companies. He also proposed establishing a sovereign wealth fund to facilitate the purchase of TikTok’s US operations. Microsoft and Oracle are reportedly among the companies interested in acquiring the platform.
Competitors take advantage of TikTok’s uncertain future
With TikTok’s fate hanging in the balance, rival social media platforms have quickly capitalised on the uncertainty. X and Bluesky introduced dedicated vertical video feeds to attract TikTok’s audience. Meta also unveiled plans for a new video editing app to compete with CapCut.
Despite the ongoing legal and political challenges, TikTok remains incredibly popular in the US. Data from analytics firm Sensor Tower revealed that TikTok was the second most downloaded app in the country last year, accumulating 52 million downloads. Its return to app stores signals a temporary victory for ByteDance, but the app’s future in the US is far from secure.
