Some TikTok users have made a pretty big mistake which means they can’t use the app despite it being brought back by Donald Trump.
Over the weekend (19 January), US users of the popular social media app found they were no longer able to download the app from Apple, Google, or other known app stores in America.
"Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now," a message read if someone attempted to access it.
The message continued: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.
"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."
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TikTok users across the pond since rushed to social media to warn others of their blunder after subsequently deleting the app off their phone - only to find it was no longer able to download.
One X user warned: "Do not delete the TikTok app it’s not on the Apple Store nomore don’t be like me."
"Friendly psa: if you delete TikTok you won’t be able to redownload it from the US app store," penned a second while a third, speaking from experience, urged: "I deleted the TikTok app yesterday and it's usable again, but you can't download it in the App Store.
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"Lesson: don't make rash decisions."
Another chimed in: "And if ya dumb*ss deleted TikTok thinking it wasn’t coming back, don’t try to install it again. They took ts off the App Store."
And a final X user echoed: "TikTok has been removed from the App Store, so if you delete the app, you won’t be able to download it again."
Why does the US want to ban TikTok?
US officials have described TikTok and its parent company ByteDance as 'a national security threat of immense depth and scale', accusing them of having links to China - which both have denied.
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Congress had already passed the law to ban the app in April, having offered ByteDance the choice to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or face a total shutdown.
After the company opted for the latter, users were told if the US Supreme Court didn't step in, the platform would officially be shut down in the country.
Sadly for fans, the deadline came and went without any intervention.
Is the TikTok ban still happening?
There is a question of whether or not Trump will be able to reverse the ban when he re-enters office following his inauguration today (20 January) - even though he was actually the one who proposed the move back in 2020.
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He later became a huge fan of TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign after managing to reach a huge audience through it and also tried to intervene in the Supreme Court Case.
However, he has previously said the decision to ban the app should be 'respected'.
Trump’s TikTok ban extension explained
TikTok began restoring its services on Sunday, despite the proposed ban coming into affect that same day, after Trump said he would revive the app's access in the States when he returns to power on Monday.
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"Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it," the 78-year-old said at a rally ahead of his inauguration, adding that the US will seek a 'joint venture' to restore the short-video sharing app used by 170 million Americans (via Reuters).
In a message to users hours before the rally, TikTok said: "As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US."
Back in December, Trump urged the Supreme Court to delay the ban in order to give his incoming administration 'the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the question at issue in the case'.
"For all of those who want to save TikTok in America, vote Trump," Trump said during his election campaign. "The other side is closing it up. But I’m now a big star on TikTok ... We’re not doing anything with TikTok, but the other side is going to close it up."
Is TikTok getting banned in the UK?
While TikTok is reportedly banned from government-issued phones, there's no evidence that the UK is planning to ban it entirely.
With that being said, however, some MPs have shared their concerns regarding the platform with Labour MP, Liam Byrne, telling the Financial Times that he was worried about TikTok’s role in the spread of disinformation
"If you’ve got an organisation that could be influenced by someone like China, that should be a matter of concern," he said.
Topics: TikTok, Social Media, US News, News, Apple, Technology
Rhiannon Ingle