After more than half a decade, TikTok’s official website has quietly become accessible again in India. While users can now visit the site without restrictions, the app itself is still missing from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
TikTok, along with 58 other Chinese applications, was banned in June 2020 following rising border tensions between India and China. The decision was significant since India was TikTok’s biggest overseas market, with over 200 million active users.
The ban left a massive gap in the short-video space, quickly occupied by homegrown platforms like Moj, Josh, Chingari, and MX TakaTak. At the same time, international players such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts also expanded rapidly. However, many of the Indian alternatives have since struggled, shut down, or merged with bigger companies.
In recent months, some banned Chinese apps, including Shein and TanTan, have managed to re-enter the Indian market. The reappearance of TikTok’s website could hint at a possible phased comeback, though there is no official clarity on whether the app itself will be relaunched.
Given TikTok’s global influence and ability to shape digital culture, its return to India would be a major development. But for now, the platform’s full revival remains uncertain.
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