The TikTok ban was officially enacted, causing the app to go dark for about fourteen hours. Despite ongoing concerns about the app’s availability to American users, President Joe Biden has publicly stated that he will not enforce the ban.
So, what does this mean? You can still use TikTok… for now.

As the head of the executive branch, the president has the authority to enforce laws. This week, President Biden decided not to enforce the law, meaning that while the ban is currently not in effect in the U.S., it has not entirely “disappeared.” The law could still be enforced at any time between now and the passing of a new law, effectively banning TikTok in the U.S.

With President-elect Donald Trump’s official inauguration into the White House on January 20, it will be up to him to decide whether TikTok stays or is banned. During his campaign, Trump pledged to save TikTok from the ban once he was elected. Currently, Trump plans to issue an executive order directing Congress to give TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, ninety more days to divest their company to a U.S.-based corporation as outlined in the bill.

However, it is still unclear what effect an executive order would have on the current law. The bill text of the “No TikTok on United States Devices Act” states that TikTok must demonstrate they are in the process of divesting to a U.S.-based company to qualify for a ninety-day extension before January 19, when the ban was set to take effect. Despite TikTok not meeting that requirement, President-elect Trump and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew have been working together to ensure the app remains available to its U.S. users.

Earlier today, Trump took to Truth Social, a social media platform, to share his plans for TikTok.

“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” Trump said.

Ultimately, the decision is in TikTok’s hands—whether to divest or face the ban. Until then, TikTok is back online.