Coco Gauff has been keeping up with the legal developments surrounding TikTok. Yesterday, TikTok was banned in the US after a bipartisan vote in the Senate determined that there were too many risks associated with the app due to its connections to China.
A few hours later, the app was functioning again.
Gauff shared a screenshot of her TikTok app and shared a message with her followers. "Lmfaooo we were dramatic for what," she wrote.
Her TikTok feed showed a notification that most American users received when they logged back into their accounts after it was inactive for a couple of hours. "Thanks for your patience and support," reads the TikTok notification.
"As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share and discover all the things you love on TikTok."
Why is TikTok working again?
TikTok was back to functioning 14 hours after the ban was initialized. Despite the existing law, President Donald Trump and his administration provided a temporary pause to the ban and a liability shield to companies like Google and Apple, allowing the app to be downloaded from app stores without fear of facing legal repercussions.
Still, TikTok's future remains complicated. Yesterday, Apple and Google had yet to allow TikTok on their app stores, operating cautiously as there's no guarantee that Trump can fully enact the ban or provide them with the necessary protections.
Last April, it was determined that TikTok's parent company ByteDance would have to sell the social media platform to a U.S. company or shut down in the country due to China's involvement with the app and perceived national security threats.
For the issue to be resolved, Trump and TikTok would have to reach an agreement that would comply with US law. Per NBC News, Trump is looking for a deal that would result in the US having "a 50% ownership position in a joint venture.”