After going dark hours before ban was set to take effect, TikTok is resuming service in the US, thanks to Trump.

Is your head spinning? It’s been a rollercoaster for TikTok over the weekend to say the very least. By now, we’re all aware of the sell-or-ban law that the US Supreme Court has slapped on TikTok, right? Well, the deadline was reached yesterday (January 19th), and TikTok went dark in the US for millions of users, as well as disappearing from the App Store and Google Play. But, just as quickly as it disappeared, the short-form video platform is back online after support from incoming President Trump.

The ban was a result of concerns about national security, with lawmakers arguing that TikTok’s Chinese ownership made it vulnerable to potential misuse of American users’ data. The US Supreme Court had upheld a law requiring TikTok to either divest its US operations or face removal from the market. When no buyer was secured by the deadline, the app was removed from app stores and its services were suspended.

However, in a dramatic twist, President-elect Donald Trump stepped in, announcing plans for an executive order that would temporarily save the app. His proposed order grants TikTok a 90-day extension to secure a deal with a US-based buyer, ensuring compliance with federal regulations. Trump stated, “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to stay up. Without US approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”

Shortly after this announcement, TikTok began to restore its services in the US. The platform expressed gratitude towards President Trump for his intervention, stating that this clarity reassures their partners and users. TikTok CEO, Shou Chew expressed gratitude in a flattering video statement directed towards Donald Trump:

“I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a President who truly understands our platform — one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process.”

Shou Chew, TikTok CEO

The restoration was a relief for creators and businesses who rely heavily on the platform for income and outreach. The shutting down of TikTok caused immediate frustration and outcry, since it has become a critical platform for creators to drive engagement and income, and for users to learn from and connect with others.

As we frantically try to keep up with the rapid developments of this TikTok saga, what can we expect to happen next?

The 90-day executive order gives TikTok and its parent company ByteDance some breathing room, however it does not solve the root issue. The platform must quickly find a buyer in order to ensure it can remain operative in the US. However, there is no guarantee that a sale will be executed within this timeframe, and TikTok could go dark again for users in the US.

With that in mind, it may be a good time for creators to take to TikTok and further prepare their audience for a nationwide ban. This means finding alternatives to the platform, and beginning to build a presence there instead.