TikTok coming back online after temporary ban

CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, US - JAN. 19, 2025: TikTok began restoring its service Sunday, less than a day since owner ByteDance shut the video-sharing app down in the US after a federal ban went into effect.“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said Sunday afternoon in a post on X.The statement also thanked US President-elect Donald Trump, who said he was considering giving TikTok an extension as reports circulated about potential bidders.“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.“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,” it added.Earlier, many users had reported seeing a message that hinted at a resolution later in the day."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 app's initial message read."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!"Hours later, optimism emerged when some users were greeted with a new message upon opening the app: "Welcome back."The updated message from TikTok said: “Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok."-'Sorry, TikTok isn't available'TikTok had announced earlier in the day that it would make its services "temporarily unavailable" due to the federal ban.(Footage by Allison Joyce /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)