TikTok has returned to the US app stores of Apple and Google after President Donald Trump delayed the enforcement of a ban on the popular social media app. The move comes after Trump signed an executive order to extend the ban until April 5.
The app’s removal from the stores in January was due to a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest or be banned in the US. However, Trump has now postponed the enforcement of this law, allowing TikTok to operate again in the country.
TikTok has faced challenges in the US, with concerns over its Chinese ownership and access to American user data. The app has denied allegations that it shares data at the request of the Chinese government, arguing that the law requiring divestment or ban violates the First Amendment rights of its users.
Potential buyers for TikTok’s majority stake have been proposed, including real estate mogul Frank McCourt, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and popular YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson. The app has also had a notable ally in Trump, who has expressed a “warm spot” for TikTok despite previously supporting a ban.
Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2025-02-14/tiktok-returns-to-apple-and-google-app-stores-in-the-us