For many American TikTok users, Jan. 19 was a day of frustration and uncertainty. Across the US, a federal law banning the use of TikTok was enacted, with many users being greeted with a message saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” whenever they opened the app. 

The ban was imposed due to fears of an invasion of users’ private information. As ByteDance Ltd., the company that owns TikTok, was based in China, the US government expressed concern for its potential as a tool for espionage. 

“Congress is acting to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, maligned operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell said.

Many users opted to use alternative platforms such as Instagram and YouTube shorts after the ban. In retaliation of the government’s ban on the app due to its Chinese origin, some started using the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu. 

Despite the outrage, the ban was lifted within 12 hours of its enactment after President Donald Trump clarified his intention to keep the app, considering a 90-day extension to figure out a deal to sell the platform to a non-Chinese company. 

TikTok endorsed Trump’s actions of keeping the app for US users. They displayed a message saying, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.”

Nonetheless, the reinstatement of the TikTok platform brought a sense of relief to many users.