And just like that, TikTok is back online. The popular short video app faced a blackout in the US on January 18 following a ban upheld by the US Supreme Court. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, issued a statement stating that it had communicated with the incoming Trump administration and felt confident in reinstating access in the US.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. 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.”

Translation: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. 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…”

Reportedly, TikTok resumed operations just an hour after sharing this statement. On the same day, President-elect Trump had commented on the issue on his Truth Social platform, advocating for the app’s service to remain active.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Trump stated. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”

Translation: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Trump stated. “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so we can negotiate a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that assisted in keeping TikTok operational before my order.”

Parsing through a significantly complex backdrop involving the TikTok ban facilitated by Congress and subsequent legislative maneuvers, it’s notable that the app’s current status reflects a series of back-and-forth rulings concerning its operational framework in the country. The narrative continues to develop as discussions surrounding data privacy and international relations emerge.