For about $1,000, you may leave an Apple store with a brand-new, hermetically sealed iPhone that’s been personalized for you by a verified Genius.
Or, for hundreds or even thousands of dollars more, you can buy a used phone with a cracked screen and dirt-filled speakers, from someone on the internet.
When the video-sharing app stopped working in the United States on Saturday evening after the Supreme Court backed a law that effectively banned it, some users deleted TikTok from their phones. The next day, the app started working again when President Trump said he was planning an executive order to pause enforcement of the law. But, as of Thursday, Apple and Google, which had removed TikTok from their app stores to comply with the law, had not made it available again for download.
The uncertainty about whether TikTok will return to the app stores has caused some people who never removed the app to view their phones like golden tickets, coveted by anyone who misses thumbing through TikTok’s algorithm or had a following that they couldn’t reach after they hastily removed the app.
It was not immediately clear how many people deleted TikTok or whether it will return to app stores. But people like Piotr Gustab, 37, of Queens, are seeing opportunity in the uncertainty.
An information technology engineer, Mr. Gustab listed his iPhone 15 Pro with TikTok downloaded onto it for $3,000 on Facebook Marketplace. That’s about three times the cost of a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro. On Thursday night, he had an offer for $1,200, still more than almost every brand-new iPhone and nearly twice as much as a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro without TikTok.
“It would be a good deal for me because I could get a couple hundred dollars on it,” Mr. Gustab, said. He will drop his asking price down to $2,000 if he does not get a better offer soon, he said.
“UNLOCKED WITH TIKTOK and CAPCUT,” an advertisement on Poshmark reads ($3,500). “iPhone 14 Pro UNLOCKED! W/ TikTok,” a listing on eBay calls out ($3,000). On Facebook Marketplace, sellers include screen recordings in their listings to verify that TikTok is installed on the phone.
“This TikTok app is worth a lot, man,” said Izell Malloy, 20, a car salesman and Twitch streamer from New London, Conn. He said he was offered $5,700 through Facebook Marketplace for his iPhone with TikTok on it.
Perhaps iPhone listings asking for $30,000 are not realistic. (Trait’n Keniston, 20, of Newport News, Va., posted his phone with TikTok for this amount but said he was not certain that the five-figure bids he received were real.) Even users going through the most severe TikTok withdrawal would be hard-pressed to buy a used phone for the price of a 2025 Toyota Prius.
But if you’re considering shelling out even a few extra bucks for a TikTok phone, Freddy Tran Nager, the associate director of the digital social media program at the University of Southern California, thinks that’s a really bad idea.
“It’s very risky behavior to buy a phone that hasn’t been wiped,” Mr. Nager said, referring to a standard reset process that would not take place on a TikTok phone. These phones, Mr. Nager warned, “could include spyware and other viruses that could really endanger your privacy.”
There are safer options. TikTok is still accessible on web browsers, and some users on Reddit say they have found a workaround to download the app. Even on phones without viruses or malware, TikTok’s uncertain future makes it difficult for Mr. Nager to see the value in these phones. If TikTok has a long-term future, it will be downloadable again, he thinks.
TikTok’s absence from app stores may sound familiar. “The Western world fell into chaos,” The New York Times wrote in 2014, when Flappy Bird, an addictive game where users guided a small fowl through an obstacle course, was removed from app stores. Phones with the app downloaded were listed for sale at astronomical prices.
Mr. Nager said TikTok is different. Some applications like games can work perfectly fine regardless of the company’s ownership issues.
“The TikTok app is only a gateway to access a website or a platform,” Mr. Nager said. If TikTok goes dark again, the app is “just a piece of art.”
But art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. To someone, the renegade and pop-culture memes might be worth a few months’ rent.
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Users with the app downloaded on their phones can access the short-video platform that returned for millions in the U.S. on Sunday and Monday. While some can jump back on TikTok without a hitch, others who either deleted or never downloaded the app remain in the dark as the Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. still don’t have it available.
It is unclear when TikTok will return to the app stores despite President Donald Trump signing an executive order to delay enforcing the ban. Nonetheless, several iPhone owners who have kept the app downloaded are now selling their brand-new or used phones for up to $25,000.
USA TODAY contacted TikTok and eBay on Wednesday but has not received a response.
What are iPhones with TikTok installed priced at on eBay?
An eBay user in Ruskin, Florida, listed an iPhone 15 Pro Max “With TikTok” for $10,000 or best offer. According to the listing, the device has received more than 1,800 views over the last 24 hours.
Other eBay users have listed iPhones with TikTok installed for prices between $500 and $25,000 depending on the model and condition. The $25,000 listing from a seller in Whittier, North Carolina, is for an iPhone 16 Pro Max with “TIKTOK INSTALLED.”
It is unclear if the iPhones with TikTok installed are selling, but most of the more than 2,000 phones being auctioned on eBay do not have active bids. The phones that do have offers are older iPhone models that are going for about $100 to $200.
One eBay seller in Raleigh, North Carolina even listed a 128 gigabyte iPhone 15 Pro with TikTok and Cap Cut, a video-editing app owned by TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance, installed for more than $4.5 million.
When could TikTok return to Google and Apple app stores?
The timeline for TikTok’s return to Google and Apple app stores is murky, but Trump has given the app’s users hope as he proposed a joint venture involving the U.S. owning 50% of the app.
“They’ll have something that’s actually more valuable because they have the ultimate partner, and the United States will make it very worthwhile for them in terms of the permits and everything else,” Trump said after meeting with TikTok’s owners.
Trump also said he is open to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk or Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison buying TikTok. If either billionaire buys the app, this could speed up its return to app stores.
It seemingly would take a deal getting done to get TikTok back on the app stores, which is something General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford told Axios will get done during an event on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland.
General Atlantic is a major investor in ByteDance and Ford is on TikTok’s Chinese parent company’s board of directors.
“We’ll get on with it, as soon as maybe the end of the week in terms of negotiating what might work … The Chinese government, the U.S. government and the company and the board all have to be involved in this conversation,” Ford said, per Axios.
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With 170 million Americans still reeling from a ban that was and then was not — all in under 24-hours, the implications of what actually happened are starting to hit home. Putting aside the prospect of another ban, which is not off the table, what is clear is that a nightmare for millions of iPhone and Android has now come true.
First, there is now a major security issue in the U.S., with TikTok’s removal from app stores preventing users from updating their apps or installing it afresh. This isn’t an issue today, notwithstanding no-one should buy an iPhone with TikTok preinstalled, regardless of the price. The app has been recently updated, and as long as you have this latest version, you’re protected. But this will become a security blackhole — any vulnerability found within TikTok cannot be patched.
That’s a short-term (one way or another) localized issue to the U.S. But there’s a much deeper issue that has implications in much darker parts of the world than the TikTok strongholds of Miami, LA and Chicago.
Ahead of the short-lived U.S. ban, users were advised that a VPN would enable them to bypass restrictions and access the platform. There were even sponsored ads for VPN providers that used TikTok’s ban as a lure. And while some of us warned that VPNs would likely not work because TikTok’s entire U.S. platform would shutdown, that didn’t fully land until Sunday 19th, when users across the U.S. reported as such.
As Top10VPN’s Simon Migliano told me, “VPNs aren’t currently working to bypass the ban. Bytedance seems to be completely committed to preventing even a single U.S. user from accessing their TikTok account. If your TikTok account was created in the U.S. or with an American SIM, then changing your IP address or spoofing your GPS data won’t unblock TikTok as you would normally expect.”
One of the reasons for this is quite specific to TikTok and its U.S. setup. Because its infrastructure partners were hit by the ban, the decision was a taken to turn off the backend. This meant that the usual data architecture that a U.S. TikToker would access was down. This is very different to an IP block, where traffic is restricted by networks and which can be fixed by a VPN masking a user’s location, tunneling through a location outside the restricted area.
But it was also clear that TikTok was applying the spirit of the ban to the fullest extent possible. Any U.S. users with a U.S. registered account were denied access — even if they were outside the U.S. at the time. It also seemed clear that TikTok was looking to other geographic signals, possibly including the SIM identifier in a phone as to where it was registered and the regional location of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store from which the app was downloaded and installed.
This has two knock-on effects that are much longer term. First, we now know that a U.S. TikTok ban will be difficult to bypass if it comes back — and the same will be true for any other Chinese (or other) app banned in the same way. There are some options, as I reported over the weekend, but none of them are especially compelling.
The second and much bigger issue is outside the U.S., where iPhone and Android users in “dark” countries rely on VPNs to access social or mainstream media content. We have seen apps dropped by Google and (especially) Apple to comply with local laws, including VPNs ironically, but millions of users still successfully use VPNs as workarounds. Make no mistake, there was real surprise at how extensive TikTok’s adherence to the ban was last weekend. Interested parties will include those blocking content in China, Russia, Iran and elsewhere, losing their battles to fully block content access.
According to ESET’s Jake Moore, “TikTok’s U.S. ban was enforced by shutting down its backend infrastructure and blocking access based on account details, SIM identifiers and app store regions meaning VPN usage was, for once, not the simple bypass many assumed would work at scale. This approach goes far beyond well thought out traditional methods effectively denying access in one fine sweep. In fact, it sets a worrying precedent with far-reaching implications for global content control and digital censorship in our not too distant future.”
TikTok’s ban will usher in a new playbook as to how it’s possible to deny an entire country’s population access to one of its most popular social media platforms in an instant. Not for web access, which will remain open, but certainly for apps that are installed locally and especially those that know the regional location of their user. I don’t expect anything to change immediately, but in China and Russia and some Middle Eastern countries in particular, I do expect a response. This could have implications for apps that cross lines on political, sexual or other freedoms in certain countries.
The art of the possible has suddenly changed — and that means a nightmare for millions of users just came true.
The recent news of a potential TikTok ban has sent shockwaves through the social media world, leaving iPhone and Android users in a state of panic. With over 800 million active users worldwide, TikTok has become a staple for many, offering a platform for creativity, entertainment, and connection.
But with concerns over national security and data privacy, the future of TikTok in the United States is uncertain. President Trump has threatened to ban the popular app, citing its Chinese ownership and the potential risks it poses to American users.
For iPhone and Android users who have grown to love TikTok and rely on it for their daily dose of viral videos and dance challenges, the thought of losing access to the platform is a nightmare come true. Many are scrambling to find alternative apps to fill the void, but none seem to capture the same magic and community that TikTok has built.
As the ban looms closer, users are left wondering what this means for their favorite content creators, their viral challenges, and their sense of belonging in the TikTok community. Will they be able to find a new platform to call home, or will they be left adrift in a sea of uncertainty?
Only time will tell what the future holds for TikTok and its loyal users. But one thing is for certain—the potential ban is a new nightmare that many iPhone and Android users never saw coming.
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TikTok ban, iPhone users, Android users, social media, censorship, government regulations, social media app, banned apps, tech news, digital trends, technology updates, viral video app, social media marketing, mobile apps, digital content, user engagement
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 07: In this photo illustration, the download page for the TikTok app is … [+] displayed on an Apple iPhone on August 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans any transactions between the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens due to national security reasons. The president signed a separate executive order banning transactions with China-based tech company Tencent, which owns the app WeChat. Both orders are set to take effect in 45 days. (Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
ByteDance restored TikTok service to U.S. users on Sunday following a temporary weekend shutdown. While the app is now online, users who deleted it are unable to download it, and current users cannot update the app.
The popular social media app went dark around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law requiring TikTok to separate from its China-based owner ByteDance or face removal from U.S. app stores by Jan. 19. Frustrated users quickly turned to other social media platforms like X and Instagram to share their disappointment in the ban.
But the shutdown turned out to be temporary, as TikTok restored service in the States by Sunday afternoon. This happened after then-President-Elect Donald Trump provided the “necessary clarity and assurance” to Tiktok’s service providers that they will face no penalties, and he pledged to suspend the ban as soon as he takes office.
On Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law for 75 days, granting ByteDance more time to sell a stake in the platform and allowing his administration to determine a course of action that “protects national security” and prevents the “abrupt shutdown” of the app.
While this offers a temporary relief for TikTok, millions of users are facing the fallout from the ban, which passed in Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. U.S. app stores continue to block TikTok, and without the ability to download updates, the app risks shutting down regardless.
Why Is TikTok Not Available On U.S. App Stores?
TikTok closeup logo displayed on a phone screen, smartphone and keyboard are seen in this multiple … [+] exposure illustration. Tik Tok is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by a Beijing based internet technology company, ByteDance. It is used to create short dance, lip-sync, comedy and talent videos. ByteDance launched TikTok app for iOS and Android in 2017 and earlier in September 2016 Douyin fror the market in China. TikTok became the most downloaded app in the US in October 2018. President of the USA Donald Trump is threatening and planning to ban the popular video sharing app TikTok from the US because of the security risk. Thessaloniki, Greece – August 1, 2020 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Despite Trump’s executive order, Apple and Google’s app stores have not reinstated TikTok or other ByteDance-owned apps like CapCut and Lemon8. This hesitation is likely due to concerns over potential legal liability if Trump reverses course and enforces the ban afterall.
The law banning TikTok stipulates that U.S. app stores could face fines of $5,000 for each user granted access to the app. With TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users, these fines could potentially add up to a staggering $850 billion. Additionally, the law’s five-year statute of limitations means the next president after Trump could still enforce violations.
University of Minnesota law professor Alan Rozenshtein expanded on this risk in a Jan. 21 article for Lawfare, stating that Trump’s assurances not to enforce the ban “offers minimal security” and that “courts rarely treat such promises as binding, even when defendants face serious consequences from relying on them.”
Apple recently published a webpage confirming that TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps are no longer available in the U.S. The company said that it is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates, adding that apps like TikTok, CapCut, and Lemon8 would “no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store” starting Jan. 19.
Shortly after TikTok was restored in the U.S., Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, tweeted that “any company that hosts, distributes, services or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability.”
Apple and Google have not responded to Forbes’ requests for comment on whether they plan to restore access to TikTok.
When Will TikTok Be Available In U.S. App Stores?
TikTok on App Store displayed on a phone screen and TikTok logo displayed on a screen in the … [+] background are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on January 30, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
It remains unclear when TikTok will return to Apple and Google’s app stores in the U.S. Users might have to wait until the tech giants receive additional legal protections to host the app or until ByteDance sells its U.S. assets — a process that could happen anytime before April 5, 2025, when Trump’s enforcement pause is set to expire.
After signing the executive order on Monday, Trump told reporters that the U.S. government is entitled to half of TikTok’s U.S. business in exchange for allowing the app to continue operating. He also warned that if China blocked the deal, “then that’s a certain hostility and we’ll put tariffs of 25, 30, 50%, even 100%.”
Trump also claimed that TikTok could be worth as much as a trillion dollars if “we would have a joint venture with the people from TikTok.”
What Will Happen If You Can’t Update TikTok?
TikTok app logo on the App Store is seen with TikTok logo displayed in the background in this … [+] illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on July 18, 2021. (Photo Ilustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Although users who have TikTok downloaded on their phone already can use the app now, that won’t be the case forever. The New York Times reported without the ability to update the app, TikTok will eventually “degrade” over time.
For example, users will be unable to receive new features, bug fixes, or performance improvements, which could impact the app’s functionality and user experience. Unresolved glitches could also cause the app to crash or stop working entirely.
Some users have reported on X that since the ban, their TikTok algorithms have been allegedly messed up. “anybody else tiktok algorithm messed up due to the ban ? don’t tell me i gotta rebuild my fyp,” one user wrote.
“TikTok has fallen. My algorithm is nowhere near the same as it was b4 the said ban,” posted another user.
Stay tuned to learn more.
When Will TikTok Be Back In App Stores? What Could Happen Without Updates
TikTok, the popular social media app known for its short videos, has been facing uncertainty about its future availability in app stores. The app was recently banned in India and faced threats of a ban in the United States due to national security concerns.
As of now, TikTok is no longer available for download in India and is facing a potential ban in the US unless it is sold to a US-based company. This has left many users wondering when TikTok will be back in app stores and what could happen if the app is not allowed to update.
Without updates, TikTok may become outdated and vulnerable to security risks. Users could also miss out on new features and improvements that could enhance their experience on the app. Additionally, without updates, TikTok may struggle to compete with other social media platforms that continue to innovate and evolve.
Overall, the future of TikTok remains uncertain, but it is crucial for the app to be back in app stores soon to ensure the safety and satisfaction of its users. Stay tuned for updates on the latest developments regarding TikTok’s availability in app stores.
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TikTok app store availability, TikTok update impact, TikTok news, TikTok app store restrictions, TikTok app store removal, TikTok app store comeback, TikTok app store future, TikTok app store speculation, TikTok app store updates.
South African billionaire Elon Musk is known for his desire to swallow up companies and rebrand them with his own trendy vision. The Tesla CEO previously used his familial wealth to purchase stakes in such businesses as PayPal, SpaceX and of course, X (formerly Twitter). Now, according to official statements made by the Trump administration cabinet pick, the emerald mine profiteer is considering buying the rights to Vine, a defunct app which predates TikTok. This would be a major development in the world of social media, since the latter is still potentially facing a long-term ban within the United States, unless the app’s parent company ByteDance can agree to divest to American financial interests.
When prompted by a fellow X user about bringing Vine back into the fray to fill in the power vacuum left by TikTok, Musk simply responded, “We’re looking into it.” So, now seems like as good a time as any to examine what Vine is (or was), how Elon could bring it back to compete with modern short-form video socials, and what that could mean for the general consumer.
What Is Vine, And Why Was It Discontinued?
If you were old enough to be in possession of a smartphone back in the early to mid 2010s, you likely recall Vine as the original short-form video sharing app. The service, which essentially functioned like a proto-TikTok, allowed users to create short clips up to six seconds in length, through a restrictive process which made exclusive use of the in-app camera. Over the course of a few short years, the app became a home to numerous viral videos, some of which propelled users to major internet fame. Notable figures such as Danny Gonzalez, Kurtis Conner and even Jake and Logan Paul got their start through Vine. Eventually, these names were able to transition into careers making long-form YouTube content, television material and even professional boxing.
Shortly after its 2012 release to the public, Vine was acquired by Twitter for $30 million, and integrated into its video sharing software. In effect, this technically means that Elon Musk already owns Vine, since he took ownership of Twitter and all its holdings back in 2022. Vine was initially acquired due to its intuitive video coding, which allowed for seamless looped playback – something Twitter struggled with significantly at the time. The user base of millions of teens was simply an added benefit. Unfortunately, then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey found that it was extremely difficult to monetize Vine videos, and ultimately agreed to terminate the standalone app after porting most of its key features into Twitter. On January 17, 2017 (nearly eight years to the day that the initial U.S. TikTok ban went into place) Vine was officially discontinued.
Could Elon Musk Really Bring Vine Back?
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Elon Musk has publicly toyed with the idea of bringing Vine since his purchase of Twitter was finalized. In October 2022, an Axios report suggested that the newly-minted owner had asked Twitter’s key engineers to begin building the framework for a rebooted Vine app. He has also asked his followers how they would feel about the resurrection of the long-dead service, to which most resounded with positive feedback. Now, as the possibility of an impending permanent TikTok ban draws nearer, theres’ more incentive than ever for the social media mogul and his tech billionaire peers to corner the market on short-form video content.
Of course, the real question we should be asking is, do we actually want Elon Musk’s Vine reboot if he makes it? Numerous reports and independent investigations have concluded that far right hate speech and full-on Nazi sentiments have flourished on X under Musk’s watch. Likewise, droves of advertisers have fled from X in the years since the father of 12 began his reign, citing issues with the platform’s poor regulation. Now that Musk has taken to cozying up with the Trump administration, and even performing what some believe was a Nazi sieg heil gesture during Trump’s inauguration, many have argued that he shouldn’t have a monopoly on social media spaces.
The Future Of Vine
At this point in time, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest that Vine will definitively return. Trump’s decision to punt the TikTok ban down the line opens up a possibility for the Chinese app to continue serving its American consumer base of over 170 million users, rendering a Vine reboot mostly unnecessary. Musk has also publicly toyed with the idea of purchasing TikTok itself, though ByteDance reps have referred to reports that they would choose him as a buyer “pure fiction,” indicating a general unwillingness to hand over the reigns. For now, the future of Vine remains uncertain, though Musk is arguably the only person who could recreate the app, given that he owns the title, rights and code to the original thing.
Elon Musk Considers Resurrecting Defunct Vine App Amid Looming TikTok Ban
In the wake of President Trump’s threats to ban popular social media app TikTok in the United States, tech mogul Elon Musk has expressed interest in resurrecting the defunct Vine app as an alternative platform.
Vine, known for its short-form video content, was shut down in 2017 by Twitter, leaving a void in the social media landscape that has yet to be filled. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, sees an opportunity to bring back Vine and capitalize on the growing demand for video content among users.
With TikTok facing scrutiny over data privacy concerns and its ties to the Chinese government, many users are looking for a new platform to share their videos and connect with others. Musk believes that Vine could be the perfect solution, offering a familiar format that users already love.
While it remains to be seen whether Musk will actually move forward with this idea, his interest in resurrecting Vine shows that there is potential for a new player to enter the social media market. As TikTok’s future hangs in the balance, could Vine make a comeback and become the next big thing in short-form video content? Only time will tell.
Longtime TikTok users have resumed using the popular social media app following a brief shutdown Sunday, but it still remains unavailable for new users to download.
Users who already had the app downloaded on their phones could jump back on the short-video platform following a brief period during the weekend when TikTok went dark. But as of Wednesday morning, TikTok could still not be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores in the United States, even after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to delay enforcing a ban.
The ban, which was due to go into effect Sunday, stems from a law that requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. assets in order to continue operating in the United States. While the law only mandated that ByteDance remove TikTok from app stores in the U.S. if it failed to meet the sale deadline, company executives made the decision to shutdown the app entirely.
For about 12 hours, users who tried to access the platform found a pop-up message that restricted their access. Then on Sunday, TikTok welcomed them back with a message crediting Trump, then the president-elect, for the app’s return.
But for those who deleted TikTok or who want to join the platform for the first time, it appears they may have to wait. Here’s what we know:
What happens if you search for TikTok in the Google store?
Android users who search for TikTok in the Google Play Store are greeted with an unclickable icon of the app logo along with a query: “Looking for TikTok?”
Underneath is a message reading, “Downloads for this app are paused due to current U.S. legal requirements.”
What happens if you search TikTok in the Apple store?
Those with iPhones who search for TikTok will see a notice reading, “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you’re in.”
A prompt to “learn more” takes users 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 reads, citing the law that went into effect Jan. 19.
What’s the truth? Sign up for USA TODAY’s Checking the Facts newsletter for all the answers.
Why TikTok may not be available again in app stores
Google and Apple may be awaiting additional protections before bypassing the ban, which could levy punishments against companies for distributing the app, according to analysts, per a report from Reuters.
TikTok abruptly shut down in the U.S. during the weekend, only to say it was working to restore service after receiving assurances from Trump that the company and its partners would not face penalties.
When and why was TikTok banned? What is Trump’s order?
Congress passed a bipartisan law in April that then-President Joe Biden signed into law over national security concerns that TikTok allows China to gather data on Americans or manipulate content that people see. 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.
Trump signaled that the extension gives 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 he was open to billionaire Elon Musk 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.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
With the ongoing ban of TikTok in several countries, many users are left wondering why they still can’t download the popular app from app stores. The hold up comes down to a variety of legal and political issues that are preventing the app from being available for download.
In the United States, the ban on TikTok was initially proposed by the Trump administration due to concerns over national security and data privacy. While the ban was blocked by courts, the Biden administration has also expressed concerns about the app and its ties to the Chinese government. As a result, TikTok remains unavailable for download in the US.
Similarly, in India, TikTok was banned in 2020 along with several other Chinese apps following border clashes between the two countries. Despite attempts to relaunch the app in India, it remains unavailable for download due to ongoing tensions between the two nations.
In other countries where TikTok is still available, there may be restrictions in place that prevent certain users from downloading the app. These restrictions are often put in place by governments or app stores in response to concerns over content moderation and data privacy.
Overall, the hold up in being able to download TikTok from app stores is a complex issue that involves legal, political, and security concerns. Until these issues are resolved, users may have to find alternative ways to access the popular app.
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TikTok download, app stores, download TikTok, TikTok app, TikTok update, app store issue, download delay, TikTok ban, app store restrictions
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F) are jumping this morning after President Trump announced Stargate, a push to help support AI growth in the United States. Among the big companies involved in the project are OpenAI, Oracle (ORCL), and SoftBank (SFTBY).
One stock that is soaring is Netflix (NFLX). The streamer reported fourth quarter results that handily beat Wall Street estimates, as well as a big jump in subscribers. United Airlines (UAL) shares are also rising on a big Q4 beat.
Who could potentially buy TikTok? President Trump said he is open to Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison or Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk buying the US assets of the social media platform. Meanwhile, social media star MrBeast has joined a new group of investors looking to make a bid for the app.
Morning Brief Anchors Seana Smith and Brad Smith break down the three things investors need to know to start the trading day.
To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here.
This post was written by Stephanie Mikulich.
Trump’s AI push: President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at boosting America’s artificial intelligence capabilities. The order seeks to prioritize AI research and development, enhance workforce training, and promote ethical and responsible AI use. This move is seen as a strategic effort to maintain America’s competitive edge in the global AI race.
Netflix surges: Netflix’s stock recently hit an all-time high as the streaming giant continues to dominate the entertainment industry. With millions of people staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix has experienced a surge in subscribers and viewership. The company’s strong performance has solidified its position as a key player in the streaming wars.
Possible TikTok buyers: As the deadline for TikTok’s sale approaches, several potential buyers have emerged. Companies like Microsoft, Oracle, and Walmart are reportedly in talks to acquire the popular video-sharing app. The sale is part of President Trump’s efforts to address national security concerns related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications for the future of the app and its millions of users.
MrBeast, the YouTube star and highest-earning creator on the internet, has officially joined a bid to buy TikTok’s US operations.
The 26-year-old has teamed up with the tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the online HR company employer.com, to make an all-cash offer for the social video app’s American unit. The approach was announced as Donald Trump said he was open to the US tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison buying TikTok in the US.
MrBeast – whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson – has floated his interest in acquiring TikTok in a number of social media posts, writing on X on 13 January: “I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” In a subsequent TikTok post Donaldson said he had been talking to a “bunch of billionaires” about a bid.
The US law firm Paul Hastings announced the Donaldson bid in a statement on Tuesday. It said Tinsley was leading an investor group comprising “institutional investors and high-net worth individuals” but Donaldson was the only publicly named member of the group.
The statement did not reveal the size of the all-cash bid, although Trump put a value of $1tn (£811bn) on the app on Tuesday. According to Forbes, MrBeast, who has 346 million followers on YouTube, was the world’s most successful internet creator last year, earning $85m.
Paul Hastings added that the lawyer leading its team advising on the bid was Brad Bondi, the brother of Pam Bondi, Trump’s choice to be US attorney general.
The US president also floated a deal with Musk, the world’s richest person, or Ellison, the multibillionaire founder of Oracle and world’s fourth richest person. At a press conference on Tuesday, Trump said he was open to Musk making a bid, adding: “I would be, if he wanted to buy it. I’d like Larry [Ellison] to buy it too.”
Ellison, who was present at the press conference, said it sounded like a “good deal”. Trump said TikTok was worth $1tn with a “permit” to operate in the US, under 50% US ownership.
TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain despite the app coming back online on Sunday after its Beijing based-owner, ByteDance, briefly shut down the service. TikTok was forced to act before a 19 January deadline for its Chinese parent to sell the app’s US unit or face a de facto ban.
However, it reinstated the app after receiving “assurance” from Trump, who then issued an executive order on Monday suspending enforcement of a law requiring TikTok’s sale. The law forbade companies such as Apple, Google or Oracle from distributing or maintaining the app – effectively stopping it from operating – if ByteDance had not completed a sale by 19 January.
Some Republican lawmakers have already questioned the legality of suspending the law, saying companies affected by the legislation must adhere to it and anyone who violates it faces “ruinous bankruptcy”. Reuters has reported that Apple and Google had not reinstated the app on their app stores by Tuesday.
TikTok, Google and Apple have been approached for comment.
YouTube star MrBeast has joined the bid to buy TikTok in the US, adding even more star power to the potential acquisition. The popular creator, known for his charitable acts and entertaining videos, has expressed interest in being a part of the group that is looking to purchase the popular social media platform.
With over 50 million subscribers on YouTube, MrBeast has a massive following and is known for his philanthropic efforts, such as planting millions of trees and donating thousands of dollars to individuals in need. His involvement in the bid to buy TikTok is sure to generate even more excitement and support for the potential acquisition.
TikTok has been facing challenges in the US due to concerns about data privacy and national security. The bid to buy the platform is seen as a way to address these issues and ensure that TikTok can continue to operate in the US while safeguarding user data.
MrBeast’s involvement in the bid is a testament to the potential that TikTok holds and the value that it brings to the social media landscape. With his star power and influence, MrBeast could play a key role in shaping the future of TikTok in the US. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Washington — TikTok began restoring service to users in the United States following a temporary and voluntary shutdown that lasted less than a day. The company said Sunday that it was in the process of reinstating access after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to try to pause the ban by executive order on his first day in office.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” TikTok said in a statement. “It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…
TikTok voluntarily shut down service in the U.S. just hours before a Sunday deadline, cutting off access to tens of millions of users after the Supreme Court this week upheld a law that effectively banned it over concerns about its ties to China.
The law passed by Congress last year gave TikTok’s China-bases parent company ByteDance until Jan. 19 to divest from TikTok or be cut off from U.S. app stores and hosting services. TikTok said a sale wasn’t possible and challenged the law in court, but it was rejected by a unanimous Supreme Court on Friday.
Trump on Sunday posted on social media that he would restore TikTok, first writing “SAVE TIKTOK” and then vowing to issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law takes effect. Further, he said there would be no liability for companies that helped keep TikTok from going dark before the order went into effect.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” he wrote. “I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”
The Supreme Court’s decision said the divest-or-ban law does not violate the free speech rights of TikTok or its 170 million users in the U.S., agreeing with the government’s position that the platform could be used by China to collect a vast amount of sensitive information on Americans.
A message reading “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” is displayed from the TikTok app on a cell phone screen on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Andy Bao / AP
While the Biden administration said enforcement of the law would be left to the incoming Trump administration, the company itself took itself offline shortly before Sunday’s midnight deadline.
Users in the U.S. who opened the app late Saturday night were greeted with a message with the headline, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message reads. “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!”
The app was also no longer available in the Apple or Google Play stores.
Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday that the president-elect had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping and “they agreed to work together on this.”
“We can have an app that protects Americans,” Waltz said. “And I could tell you, I wouldn’t want the FBI or the U.S. government monitoring every keystroke or seeing every password, nor would we want the Chinese Communist Party. But we also want an app that 170 million Americans clearly really enjoy and that we were able to get our message out during the Trump campaign in a very powerful way.”
TikTok had said Friday it would “be forced to go dark” beginning Sunday unless the Biden administration assured service providers that the law would not be enforced. The White House called the appeal “a stunt” and said the company should bring up its concerns with the Trump administration.
“We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Internationally on Sunday, the TikTok app remained accessible, and there was no indication for international users that it had gone dark in the U.S. It was still possible to view and interact with American accounts, and there was no obvious official signposting that U.S. users’ access had been restricted.
Even if Trump declines to enforce the ban, the law would still be on the books, and companies like Apple and Google could be penalized down the road for violations. Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he was considering an option to extend the deadline for the law to go into effect.
“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” he said in the phone interview, adding, “if I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”
The law includes a provision that allows for a short-term extension if there is a sale in progress.
During Supreme Court arguments on Jan. 10, Noel Francisco, a lawyer for TikTok, warned that the platform would shut down when the law went into effect, explaining that it would be “extraordinarily difficult” for a divestiture to occur under any timeline because the Chinese government opposes a sale of the algorithm that powers the platform by tailoring video recommendations to each user.
“As I understand it, we go dark,” Francisco said.
But even if there is an eventual sale that did not include TikTok’s algorithm, it would take “many years” for a new team of engineers to rebuild it and it would be a “fundamentally different platform,” according to Francisco. He said the company’s inability to share any user data with ByteDance under the law would cut off American users from viewing content from other parts of the world and vice versa.
The bipartisan law was tucked into a foreign assistance package that swiftly passed Congress and was signed by President Biden last April. TikTok and ByteDance challenged the law the next month, calling it “an extraordinary and unconstitutional assertion of power” based on “speculative and analytically flawed concerns about data security and content manipulation” that would suppress the speech of millions of Americans.
In a December ruling, a federal appeals court upheld the statute, saying the U.S. government “acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” The appeals court later denied TikTok’s bid to delay the law from taking effect, pending a Supreme Court review.
The Supreme Court moved with extraordinary speed to take up the case after TikTok requested the justices order a temporary pause. The court issued its opinion a week after hearing arguments and two days before the law took effect.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the court’s opinion said.
The justices cited Congress’ finding that companies can be required to turn over data to the Chinese government under Chinese law.
“The government had good reason to single out TikTok,” the court said.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar noted during arguments that there’s “nothing permanent or irrevocable that happens” on Sunday. The law provides the authority for the restrictions to be lifted on TikTok if there is a sale after the date.
“Congress expected we might see something like a game of chicken. ByteDance saying, we can’t do it, China will never let us do it. But when push comes to shove and these restrictions take effect, I think it will fundamentally change the landscape with respect to what ByteDance is willing to consider,” Prelogar said.
In a video statement after the Supreme Court issued its decision, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appeared confident that the app would have a future under Trump. He thanked the incoming president for his commitment to finding a solution that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. “for years to come.”
Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term over national security concerns, said Friday that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about TikTok. A Chinese summary of the call did not mention that it was a topic of discussion.
Barring a sale or Congress overturning the law, there’s no long-term certainty about TikTok’s future in the U.S. If Trump or a future presidentdeclines to enforce the law, companies like Apple and Google could still face steep fines in the future.
“On the 19th, if it doesn’t shut down, there is a violation of law, correct?” Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Prelogar, who said, “Yes.”
“And whatever the new president does, doesn’t change that reality for these companies,” Sotomayor continued, referring to the penalties facing app stores and web hosting services.
“That’s right,” Prelogar said, adding that a five-year statute of limitations exists.
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
TikTok, the popular social media app, has officially started restoring its services in the U.S. after temporarily shutting down due to the divest-or-ban law passed by the government. Users can now once again enjoy creating and sharing their short videos on the platform.
The divest-or-ban law required TikTok to either sell its U.S. operations to an American company or face a complete ban in the country. After months of negotiations and legal battles, TikTok has finally reached an agreement with a U.S.-based company to continue operating in the country.
This news comes as a relief to the millions of TikTok users who rely on the platform for entertainment, creativity, and connection with others. With the service now being restored, users can once again enjoy all the features and content that TikTok has to offer.
TikTok has assured users that their data and privacy will be protected, and that they are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all users. As the app makes its comeback in the U.S., users can look forward to getting back to sharing their videos and connecting with others in the TikTok community.
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TikTok, U.S., service restoration, divest or ban law, social media, technology, news, update, Chinese app, ByteDance, video-sharing platform
TikTok said Sunday it was restoring service to users in the United States after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban that President-elect Donald Trump said he would try to pause by executive order on his first day in office.
Trump said he planned to issue the order to give TikTok’s China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer before the popular video-sharing platform is subject to a permanent U.S.ban. He announced the move on his Truth Social account as millions of U.S. TikTok users awoke to discover they could no longer access the TikTok app or platform.
Google and Apple removed the app from their digital stores to comply with the law, which required them to do so if TikTok parent company ByteDance didn’t sell its U.S. operation by Sunday. The law, which passed with wide bipartisan support in April, allowed for steep fines for non-compliance.
The company that runs TikTok said in a post on X that Trump’s post had provided “the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans.”
Some users reported soon after TikTok’s statement that the app was working again, and TikTok’s website appeared to be functioning for at least some users. Even as TikTok was flickering back on, it remained unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores.
The law that took effect Sunday required ByteDance to cut ties with the platform’s U.S. operations due to national security concerns posed by the app’s Chinese roots. However, the statute gave the sitting president authority to grant a 90-day extension if a viable sale is underway.
Although investors made a few offers, ByteDance previously said it would not sell. In his post on Sunday, Trump said he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” but it was not immediately clear if he was referring to the government or an American company.
Trump said his order would “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect” and “confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump wrote.
The on-and-off availability of TikTok came after the U.S. Supreme Court held in a unanimous ruling Friday that the risk to national security posed by TikTok’s ties to China outweighed concerns about limiting speech by the app or its millions of users in the United States.
When TikTok users in the U.S. tried to watch or post videos on the platform as of Saturday night, they saw a pop-up message under the headline, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” a pop-up message informed users who opened the TikTok app and tried to scroll through videos on Saturday night. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The service interruption TikTok instituted hours early caught most users by surprise. Experts had said the law as written did not require TikTok to take down its platform, only for app stores to remove it. Current users had been expected to continue to have access to videos until the app stopped working due to a lack of updates.
“The community on TikTok is like nothing else, so it’s weird to not have that anymore,” content creator Tiffany Watson, 20, said Sunday.
Watson said she had been in denial about the looming shutdown and with the space time on her hands plans to focus on bolstering her presence on Instagram and YouTube.
“There are still people out there who want beauty content,” Watson said.
The company’s app also was removed late Saturday from prominent app stores, including the ones operated by Apple and Google. Apple told customers with its devices that it also took down other apps developed by TikTok’s China-based parent company, including one that some social media influencers had promoted as an alternative.
“Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” the company said.
Trump’s plan to issue an executive order to spare TikTok on his first day in office reflected the ban’s coincidental timing and the unusual mix of political considerations surrounding a social media platform that first gained popularity with often silly videos featuring dances and music clips.
During his first term in the White House, Trump issued executive orders in 2020 banning TikTok and the Chinese messaging app WeChat, moves that courts subsequently blocked. When momentum for a ban emerged in Congress last year, however, he opposed the legislation. Trump has since credited TikTok with helping him win support from young voters in last year’s presidential election.
Despite its own part in getting the nationwide ban enacted, the Biden administration stressed in recent days that it did not intend to implement or enforce the ban before Trump takes office on Monday.
In the nine months since Congress passed the sale-or-ban law, no clear buyers emerged, and ByteDance publicly insisted it would not sell TikTok. But Trump said he hoped his administration could facilitate a deal to “save” the app.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a prime seating location.
Chew posted a video late Saturday thanking Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the U.S. and taking a “strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”
Trump’s choice for national security adviser, Michael Waltz, told CBS News on Sunday that the president-elect discussed TikTok going dark in the U.S. during a weekend call with Chinese President Xi Jinping “and they agreed to work together on this.”
On Saturday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Perplexity is not asking to purchase the ByteDance algorithm that feeds TikTok user’s videos based on their interests and has made the platform such a phenomenon.
Other investors also eyed TikTok. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary recently said a consortium of investors that he and billionaire Frank McCourt offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Trump’s former treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, also said last year that he was putting together an investor group to buy TikTok.
In Washington, lawmakers and administration officials have long raised concerns about TikTok, warning the algorithm that fuels what users see is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities. But to date, the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence of TikTok handing user data to Chinese authorities or tinkering with its algorithm to benefit Chinese interests.
Kanis Leung in Hong Kong and Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta contributed to this story.
Great news for TikTok users in the U.S.! The popular video-sharing app announced that it is restoring service to its American users following President Trump’s promise. TikTok went dark for several hours earlier today, leaving millions of users unable to access the platform.
In a statement released by TikTok, the company thanked President Trump for his commitment to allowing the app to continue operating in the U.S. The app also reiterated its commitment to protecting the privacy and security of its users’ data.
This development comes after months of uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S. due to national security concerns raised by the Trump administration. With service now being restored, users can once again enjoy creating and sharing their videos on the platform.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation continues to develop. Thank you for your patience and continued support of TikTok! #TikTok #USUsers #TrumpPromise #ServiceRestoration
