TikTok Returns To App Stores In The US

TikTok has returned to Apple and Google Play app stores in the US after President Donald Trump delayed banning the app, Billboard reports.

Former President Joe Biden tabled a ban on the popular social media app TikTok due to allegations that its Chinese technology firm owners, ByteDance, have access to the data of millions of Americans. Therefore, TikTok has been deemed a national security risk. TikTok has denied allegations that it shares the data of American users.

On 18 January, American TikTok users woke up to discover that TikTok was removed from Apple and Google Play app stores, as TikTok complied with a law for ByteDance to divest with the app, or risk being banned in the US.

For a day, TikTok was unavailable for use in the US, but it was restored after Trump assured that he’d postpone banning the app. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban until 5 April.

While Trump was against TikTok in his first term and supported calls for its ban, he’s since described the app as one he has a “warm spot” for. Billboard reports that TikTok CEO Shou Chew attended Trump’s inauguration last month.

In September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that his government would install a social media ban for teens and kids.

That move followed South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas sharing plans for a social media policy that would be an Australian first—the South Australian government would require teenagers aged between 14 and 15 to access platforms like TikTok and Instagram with parental consent.

Last year, opposition leader Peter Dutton called on the Albanese government to follow the United States' example and implement a ban on TikTok.

Albanese previously stated that the federal government had “no plans” to ban TikTok in Australia.