TikTok Restores Service in US Despite Law, App Announces

TikTok is “restoring service” to users in the US following a brief ‘blackout’, the app announced on Sunday, January 19 via a statement share on social media. “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. “

“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and certainty to our service providers that they will not face any penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive, ” the statement continued. “It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States. “

On Friday, January 17 the Supreme Court announced a unanimous verdict to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign-Controlled Applications Act, which banned the app nationwide.

“I join all but Part II.A of the Court’s per curiam opinion. I see no reason to assume without deciding that the Act implicates the First Amendment because our precedent leaves no doubt that it does not,” Justice Sonia Sotomayer wrote in her ruling. “TikTok engages in expressive activity by ‘collecting and curating’ material on its platform.”

The app stopped working for users in the United States a few hours before midnight on Saturday, January 18. Before and during the few hours during the blackout, several celebrities spoke about the ban.

Singer Kesha jokes remind her followers whose 2010 hit single “Tik Tok” would always be available to them no matter what happened to the app of the same name. In a video shared via Instagram on Saturday, January 18, the singer wore a black hoodie and closed her eyes while part of her 2010 hit song played. Over the video, he wrote, “TikTok may be temporary, but TiK ToK is forever,” adding a peace sign and a black heart emoji. The song was a hit when it debuted, spending nine weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Kylie Kelce also comment on the impending ban. “There’s something that’s been weighing heavily on me over the past few days,” Kelce continued episode January 16 from her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. “Looks like my favorite app, TikTok, may be disappearing forever. I hope not, and I can doom-scroll until the end of time. But, just in case, I want to pour one out properly for TikTok. “

“I think everybody loses,” Mark D’Amelio He said at ABC News Studios’ IMPACT x Night Sponsorship special from May 2024. “I believe small businesses are losing out. I think the politicians are losing too.”

Marc and his wife, Heidi D’Amelioare the parents of social media mavens Dixie a Charlietheir dances are online it went viral in 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We didn’t call ourselves TikTok’s first family,” Marc, 56, added in the ABC News special. “It’s hard to believe that many people sat and watched a video. I think the ability to turn someone who’s obscure into a celebrity overnight, I don’t think there’s any other platform like that.”