The popular short video app, TikTok, which boasts a user base of 170 million American users, has started to restore its services. This development comes weeks after the app went dark, as former President Donald Trump assured the revival of its access prior to his inauguration.
At the moment, TikTok has not issued an immediate response to a Reuters request for comment regarding the recent updates. The company's silence leaves room for speculation about its future plans and operations within the U.S.
Last month, an executive order from Trump delayed the ban on TikTok for 75 days. This extension has allowed the China's ByteDance-owned company to continue its operations in the United States on a temporary basis. This decision has provided a temporary respite for TikTok and its extensive user base in the country.
The directive clarified that companies operating mobile application stores or digital marketplaces would not face any penalties for keeping the TikTok app operational. This has been a significant relief for platforms where users browse, download, and update apps.
In 2024, TikTok was ranked as the second most downloaded app in the United States, with more than 52 million downloads, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. This statistic highlights the app's immense popularity among American users.
Additionally, Sensor Tower reported that approximately 52% of TikTok's total downloads in the U.S. last year were from the Apple App Store, while 48% were from Google Play. These figures underscore the app's widespread reach across different platforms.
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Reporting by Shivani Tanna, Bipasha Dey, Devika Nair in Bengaluru, and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Rashmi Aich.
