TikTok, the popular social network favored by young people, has found a clever way to circumvent the recent ban that led to its removal from the Google Play Store in the United States.
American Android users can download TikTok again, but not from Google's traditional store. ByteDance, the company behind the social network, has implemented an alternative solution that allows users to obtain the app directly from its official website.
Here's a breakdown of this new development that's causing a stir. Users now have access to two versions of the application: the standard version, with all the familiar features, and TikTok Lite, designed for those with slower internet connections or less powerful devices.
The good news is that installation is a breeze. Anyone familiar with Android knows what it means to sideload an app, but even those with less experience won't have any trouble. Simply download the APK file from the website and follow a few simple steps.
Some might raise concerns about security, but TikTok has already addressed this. The company assures that the app's source code remains under scrutiny by Oracle and a team of independent inspectors, the same ones who monitor the version available on the Play Store. This is a significant detail, considering the privacy concerns that led to the ban.
The situation is more complicated for iPhone users. Apple does not allow sideloading of apps in the United States (it's only available in European Union countries), so iOS users must make do with the web version of TikTok. This is a significant limitation that could last for a long time, as both Apple and Google seem unwilling to challenge the ban, despite President Donald Trump signing an executive order to suspend its application.