TikTok still unavailable for download from app stores
By: Eric Lagtta
USA Today
...... Longtime TikTok users have resumed using the popular social media app following an abrupt but brief shutdown Sunday. [01/19/2025] However, TikTok could still not be downloaded form the Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. as of Wednesday [01/22/2025] morning even after President Donald Trump singed an executive order to delay enforcing a ban that went into effect January 19. [2025]
.....
The ban stems from a bipartisan law Congress passed in April [2024] that required TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets in order to continue operating here. Lawmakers cited national security concerns that TikTok allows China to gather data on Americans or manipulate content that people see.
..... while the law mandated only that ByeDance remove TikTok from app stores in the U.S. if it failed to meet the sale deadline, company executives made the decisions to shut down the app entirely. For about 12 hours, U.S. users who tried to access the platform found a pop-up message that restricted their access.
..... then on Sunday, [01/19/2025] TikTok welcomed them back with a message crediting Trump, then the president-elect, for the app's return. The company said it was working to restore service after receiving assurances from Trump that the company and its partners would not face penalties.
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But those who deleted Tiktok or want to join the platform for the first time have had to wait.
..... As of Wednesday [01/22/2025] morning, Android users who searched for TikTok in the Google Play Store were greeted with an unclickabee icon of the app logo along with the query: "Looking for TikTok?"
..... Underneath was a message: "Downloads for this app are paused due to current U's. legal requirements."
..... Those with iphones who searched for TikTok saw a notice reading "TikTok and other ByteDance app are not available in the country or region you're to a support page with additional information about the availability of TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance in the United States.
..... "Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates," the message read, citing the April [2024] law.
..... Trump's executive order, the legality of which is unclear, would extend enforcement of a ban on the app in the U.S. by another 75 days.
..... Google and Apple
may be awaiting additional protection before bypassing the ban, which could levy punishments against companies for distributing the app, according to analysts, per a report for Reuters.
..... Trump signaled that the extension allows more time to find a buyer for the app's U.S. assets. Plenty of suitors have emerged as potential buyers, with Trump even indicating Tuesday [01/21/2025] he as open to billionaire Elon Musk, his close adviser, buying the app.
..... the president said he's also open to Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, acquiring TikTok. Oracle, a software company, houses most of TikTok's servers.
Contributing: Rebecca Morin and Aisha Bagchi, USA Today; Reuters.