Since Thursday Tiktok was again in Apple and Google app stores (photos by Anna Barclay/Getty … [+]
Although the long -term future of Tiktok is still far away from the set, the short video app of the video, which had briefly gone to the dark last month, was again in Apple and Google App stores in the SH.BA on Thursday. This was a considerable shift for the technology giants, which had kept the app to leave their respective stores even after a close detention was delayed.
There have been speculation that Apple and Google were waiting for guarantees that they would not face legal issues for receiving or distributing the application, Reuters reported.
How long the app will be available now is just the last uncertainty for tiktok. It was just weeks ago that President Donald Trump delayed the close detention shortly after taking office-essentially throwing the Chinese-owned social media platform a last-minute life expectancy.
It was last April that President Joe Biden signed in law the draft law that had widespread two-party support in Congress requested by Chinese-based Bytedance to sell Tiktok or face a detention in the US, however, after taking office, Trump issued an executive order that delayed the implementation of the detention for 75 days, while it can be extended.
A popular platform
Tiktok, which was the first non-Facebook app to spend three billion users worldwide, currently holds about 170 million users in the United States, and the company claims that more than seven million small businesses now use it in a some way. It was also the second most popular app in the US last year, with more than 52 million downloads.
About 52% of those downloads came from Apple App Store, while the remaining 48% were from Google Play, according to research by sensor Tower. The platform was removed from both app stores on January 18, 2025.
Back to app stores
Given the strong popularity of Tiktok and the fact that President Trump has changed the course in it – after stopping it during his first term – it is not really surprising that it has returned to Apple and Google App. However, Trump’s executive order should not be seen as a proverbial presidential pardon, and on the contrary it can be merely a temporary attitude of execution.
“I would not read the situation,” said Roger Entner, Technology Industry Analyst and Social Media Experts at Recon Analytics. “It can disappear as soon as the last time President Trump changes his mind or the law comes into force when the current executive order expires.”
Apple and Google can see the popularity of Tiktok and are simply meeting the customer’s demand. This may not be permanent status quo, as the security concerns that led to the prohibition of the application have not been addressed or facilitated.
“The difficulty is that we still do not have a lasting remedy,” added Rob Enderle, the main analyst and founder of the dream group.
There may be another push for bytedance to sell the app, or face a permanent ban.
Another Chinese app has stolen attention
The benefit that Tiktok received also came as lawmakers turned their attention into another Chinese app, and this has received some of the pressure away – at least for now.
“Deepseek has become the new Boogeyman of Congress who has received a lot of heat from Tiktok and go as Tiktok is more dangerous, politically, than going after Deepseek,” Enderle said.
Chinese generative omission-he caught the world by the storm, and tanked the US technology market last month.
“If something does not change, tiktok blockage will be a low advantage for the administration. Even the mustok who wanted Tiktok has shifted his focus to Openai, who suggests that there is a good tiktok chance is safer for the moment.