The popular video-sharing app TikTok is once again available for download on iPhones and Android phones across America. This comes after a brief removal that had stopped new users from downloading the app and existing users from getting updates.
President Donald Trump signed an order giving TikTok more time to sort out its ownership issues. This matters because TikTok, which lets people share short videos with effects and music, has become part of daily life for many Americans – from teenagers sharing videos to the over 7 million small businesses using the platform.
“I got to use it,” Trump said, explaining his change of mind about banning the app. “And remember, TikTok is largely about kids, young kids.” This marks a big shift from his earlier stance in 2020 when he wanted to ban the app completely.
The main worry is about user data – the information TikTok collects when people use the app. Since TikTok’s owner ByteDance is based in China, there’s concern this information could be accessed by the Chinese government. This raises questions about how user information is stored and who has access to it.
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For TikTok’s 170 million American users, the app’s brief disappearance from stores in January 2025 showed how quickly access could change. While people who already had TikTok could still watch and post videos, they couldn’t get any updates for the app during this period.
Several American business figures have shown interest in buying TikTok, including Frank McCourt, Kevin O’Leary, and Jimmy Donaldson (known as MrBeast). Any new owner would need to address the national security concerns while maintaining the app’s service for its millions of users.
The current 75-day extension gives TikTok time to find a solution. During this period, the app remains available in app stores. The key focus is finding a way to address the national security concerns that led to the original ban.
For the millions of Americans who use TikTok daily – whether for sharing content, running their businesses, or watching videos – the app’s future remains important. The current goal is to find a solution that addresses both national security concerns and the interests of TikTok’s large user base.
