TikTok Survives: ByteDance Faces 75-Day Deadline to Sell in the U.S.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, faces a critical 75-day deadline to sell its U.S. operations, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The app, which had been removed from U.S. app stores for over 25 days, has now been restored by Apple and Google. The removal resulted from a national security law that affected TikTok and other ByteDance apps like CapCut and Lemon8. President Trump stated that he envisions a 50% share of TikTok in a joint venture with the U.S., with the newly inaugurated U.S. sovereign fund set to participate in the deal.

In response to the national security concerns, TikTok began restoring services to existing users on January 19. Despite this, Apple and Google did not immediately return TikTok to their respective stores. Recent data from Cloudflare Radar indicates that TikTok's traffic has recovered to nearly 90% of its pre-ban levels. Earlier this month, TikTok encouraged its Android users to sideload the app via its website, circumventing the official app stores.

The situation escalated when Apple published an unusual support document discussing the app's removal, only to remove it later. The document was rare for Apple and hinted at the complexities involved in the app's removal due to national security considerations. Yet, as of now, TikTok is back on both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, offering temporary relief to its vast user base in the U.S.

ByteDance must now navigate these turbulent waters by finding a suitable buyer within the stipulated period to prevent a complete ban of TikTok in the United States. The executive order signed by President Trump offers a temporary reprieve but underscores the urgency of the situation. The U.S. government's emphasis on national security remains a pivotal factor in the ongoing negotiations and future operations of TikTok within the country.