TikTok is back on the App Store and Google Play—even as its future remains questionable. After disappearing on January 19, the app resurfaced courtesy to an extension by President Trump. Is there a buyer at last, though? Let us examine it more closely.
The Ban, the Law, and the Extension
There was a lot of pressure on Tik-Tok to find a buyer before the deadline of January 19. The purpose of this action was to adhere to a law that President Biden enacted in April 2024. But on January 20, President Trump signed an executive order delaying this date, which changed everything.
- Extension Details:
- Trump’s order granted a 75-day extension.
- The extension is set to end on April 5.
- Trump alluded to a potential additional extension on Thursday:”I have 90 days left, which was around two weeks ago. I am sure we can extend it, but we will see. Many individuals are interested in TikTok.
Many people are asking if the ban will be further extended in light of this comment.
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Has TikTok Been Sold?
TikTok has not yet been acquired by a new business. Rather, a number of possible purchasers have surfaced:
- Possible Buyers Include:
- Oracle
- Microsoft
- Other American investors
NPR reports that these organizations, under the direction of senior White House officials, are drafting bids to purchase Tik-Tok’s U.S. business. President Trump also stated in early February that he was “going to be doing something potentially with Tik-Tok” in connection with the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund. This raises the possibility that the US government may be involved in the app’s future sales.
Who Owns TikTok Now?
TikTok is still owned by Beijing-based software giant ByteDance, despite all the rumors of a sale. According to February 2025, this remains unchanged.
How Did TikTok Return to the App Stores?
TikTok was not available for download once the ban took effect on January 19. When the software just returned to the Google Play Store and Apple software Store, that changed.
- What Happened?
- On Thursday, Apple and Google received a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- The letter stated that the Trump administration would not prosecute the companies for keeping Tik-Tok available.
- However, there is a catch:
- Businesses who deal with TikTok may be subject to fines of $5,000 per U.S. user under the law that prohibits the app.
- With about 170 million U.S. users, these fines could add up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
What’s Next for TikTok?
Millions of fans are happy that TikTok is back in the app stores, however there are still a lot of unanswered questions:
- Will a buyer finally come forward?
- How long will the ban extension last?
- What impact will potential fines have?
Although the app is currently back, its future is still very much up in the air.
Final Thoughts
The return of TikTok is a development in a continuing legal and political drama. Although users can download the app again, the story is far from finished because of the pending fines and the uncertainties surrounding its sale.
What do you think about TikTok’s return?