The brief 12-hour shutdown of TikTok over the weekend sent ripples through the Gen Z influencer community, prompting expressions of relief and even gratitude towards President-elect Donald Trump when the platform was restored.

Makeup artist James Charles, for instance, voiced his distress on Instagram during the blackout, describing the situation as "dystopian" and expressing unexpected support for Trump. His post garnered significant attention, highlighting the impact of the temporary ban.

The shutdown, stemming from the Biden administration's law requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest from its Chinese ownership, affected over 170 million American users. The Supreme Court upheld the law on Friday, leading to the platform's temporary removal from app stores and a service interruption message for users.

However, TikTok's unexpected return the following morning was accompanied by a notification attributing the restoration to President-elect Trump's intervention. This sparked a wave of appreciation from influencers and users who celebrated the platform's revival.

Users expressed their gratitude through various posts and videos, with some crediting Trump directly for the platform's return. Even TikTok CEO Shou Chew publicly thanked Trump for his efforts to find a solution that would allow TikTok to remain accessible in the United States.

Trump had previously indicated he would likely grant a 90-day extension for TikTok to comply with the divestiture law, offering a potential explanation for the platform's rapid restoration. This development follows earlier reports of influencers expressing concern over the Supreme Court's decision.