TikTok in USA Goes Dark

TikTok Goes Dark in the U.S.—Then Restored by Trump’s Intervention

On January 18, 2025, TikTok, the wildly popular social media platform with over 170 million American users, abruptly went dark in the United States, leaving creators, small businesses, and casual users reeling. This shutdown came as a result of a federal law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024. The law mandated that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations to a non-Chinese buyer by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns over potential data sharing with the Chinese government. When ByteDance failed to meet the deadline, and after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law on January 17, TikTok took the drastic step of shutting down its services, and Apple and Google removed the app from their stores.

The Shutdown: A Sudden Loss for Millions

The shutdown began around 10:30 p.m. ET on January 18, just hours before the law’s deadline. U.S. users attempting to access the app were met with a pop-up message: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The message also expressed hope, noting that President-elect Donald Trump had indicated he would work on a solution to reinstate the app once he took office. By late Saturday night, TikTok was unavailable on Apple and Google Play stores, and other ByteDance apps like CapCut and Lemon8 were also blacklisted.

The impact was immediate and profound. For many, TikTok was more than just a platform for viral dances—it was a cultural hub, a creative outlet, and a source of income. Influencers like Alix Earle, with nearly 8 million followers, shared emotional farewells, with Earle posting a tearful video saying, “This platform is more than an app or a job to me. I have so many memories on here.” Small businesses, which TikTok reported numbered over 7 million on the platform, faced significant losses, with the company estimating that a prolonged shutdown could cost creators nearly $300 million in earnings. Users flocked to alternatives like RedNote (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese app that saw a surge in downloads, becoming the top free app on Apple’s U.S. store.

The decision to go dark was not entirely forced—some reports suggest TikTok preemptively shut down to pressure the Biden administration into providing assurances to its service providers, like Oracle, which hosted TikTok’s U.S. servers. The White House, however, called this move a “stunt,” with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that enforcement would fall to the incoming Trump administration, set to take office on January 20. Critics of the ban, including some legal scholars, argued that the national security concerns were overblown, pointing out that no public evidence had been presented showing TikTok shared user data with Chinese authorities. They also noted that other social media platforms posed similar data privacy risks but were not targeted, raising questions about whether TikTok was being singled out due to its Chinese ownership.

Trump’s Intervention: A Reversal and Restoration

The blackout lasted just over 12 hours. On January 19, TikTok began restoring service, crediting President-elect Donald Trump for providing the “necessary clarity and assurance” to its service providers. Trump, who had previously supported a TikTok ban during his first term in 2020, had shifted his stance during his 2024 campaign, even joining the platform himself. On the morning of January 19, he posted on Truth Social, urging companies “not to let TikTok stay dark” and announcing his intention to issue an executive order on January 20—his first day in office—to extend the law’s enforcement period. He wrote, “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”

TikTok quickly responded with a statement on X: “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 million Americans.” By Sunday afternoon, many users reported access to the app via web browsers and mobile devices, greeted with a message: “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” However, the app remained unavailable for download on Apple and Google’s app stores until February 13, 2025, when it was fully reinstated.

Trump’s executive order, signed on January 20, granted TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with the law, effectively pausing the ban. He proposed a 50-50 joint venture between ByteDance and a U.S. partner, though the law limits foreign adversary ownership to 20%, raising questions about the feasibility of his plan. Potential buyers, including Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary, and even YouTuber MrBeast, had expressed interest, but ByteDance remained resistant to a sale.

The Aftermath: A Fragile Victory

While TikTok’s restoration was celebrated by users, the app’s future remains uncertain. Some Republicans, like Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, criticized Trump’s move, arguing there was “no legal basis” for an extension unless ByteDance fully divested. House Speaker Mike Johnson also emphasized enforcing the law, suggesting Trump’s comments were aimed at forcing a true divestiture. Legal experts warned that Trump’s executive order might face challenges, as it appeared to contradict a Supreme Court ruling upholding the ban. Apple and Google, cautious of potential penalties, held off on fully restoring TikTok to their stores until February, while Oracle and Akamai reinstated web support more quickly.

The saga highlighted the complex interplay of national security, free speech, and global tech politics. Trump’s intervention was seen by some as a political win, especially among younger users, but others viewed it as a temporary fix that failed to address the underlying issues. As of March 29, 2025, TikTok remains operational in the U.S., with Trump stating on March 10 that negotiations with four potential buyers were ongoing. However, the app’s long-term fate hinges on whether a deal can be brokered that satisfies both national security concerns and the interests of its 170 million American users. For now, TikTok is back—but the clock is still ticking.