Nearly a month after TikTok went dark, the app is back and available for download in both Apple and Google’s online app stores. From banned to unbanned, users have endured a rollercoaster of emotions over the past month as the future of TikTok remains uncertain.
On Jan. 19, 2025, after a 14-hour blackout of the platform, many users were excited to see the app had returned to their phones. President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing the enforcement of the Biden administration’s ban on the app, delaying action for 75 days, according to the Associated Press.
Source: Contributed by Will Morgan, ’28
Source: Contributed by Will Morgan, ’28
Sophomore Bella Perna described going through “withdrawals” after the app’s initial ban, despite her confidence that the app would return.
“The day it got banned I would keep trying to open the app thinking it was going to work, but it didn’t,” said Perna. “Sometimes you don’t realize how addicted you are to a social media app.”
TikTok has nearly 170 million users in the U.S., according to AP News, who find multiple uses through the app such as discovering news or entertainment, building a community, or in some cases, making a living. The app re-entering the app stores, to many, came as a welcomed surprise.
“If I am bored or need entertainment, I scroll on TikTok and end up losing track of time. I also find a lot from TikTok including life hacks, discovering new music and learning new information,” said Perna.
For many students, like Perna, TikTok has become a time capsule, allowing users to rewatch clips from their lives.
“I felt very upset when TikTok got banned. I was sad because a lot of my posts, both public and private, hold memories and captured significant moments in my life,” said freshman Shannon Cahill.
While many users had mourned the app, others looked forward to spending more time offline and engaging with the world around them, rather than mindlessly scrolling for hours on end.
“Leading up to the ban, I was disappointed, since I rely on TikTok for a lot of my entertainment,” said junior Katie Ventisette. “But I was kind of happy because I knew I would be on my phone less and find different ways to entertain myself and be less distracted.”
While students can now return to their scrolling, the future of the platform remains unclear. Time may be ticking for TikTok.
Moira Staples contributed to this article.
