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TikTok is reportedly planning to disable its app for U.S. users if a proposed ban goes into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
However, this decision may be delayed or blocked if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in TikTok’s favour before the ban is enacted.
According to Reuters, on January 19, users attempting to open the app will see a notification directing them to a website with information regarding the proposed ban.
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Additionally, TikTok is reportedly offering users the option to download all their data in order to preserve their personal information.
The proposed ban stems from a law signed by U.S. President Joe Biden in April 2024, which mandates that ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, sell its U.S. operations due to national security concerns.
A December 2024 appeals court ruling upheld the ban, which would remove TikTok from Google and Apple app stores, preventing new downloads. While current users could still access the app, they would no longer be able to receive updates, which could cause functionality issues over time.
TikTok and content creators argue that the ban violates the free speech rights of the 170 million U.S. users, but the U.S. Supreme Court, after hearing the case on January 10, 2025, has not yet made a preliminary ruling.
President-elect Donald Trump has requested that the court postpone its decision until he is officially sworn into office on January 20.
As the threat of a ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are already exploring alternatives. The Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (also known as “Little Red Book” or RedNote) has become increasingly popular, particularly for its blend of e-commerce and short-form video content. According to the Associated Press, Xiaohongshu is currently the top-ranked free social media app on Apple’s U.S. app store.
Lemon8, another ByteDance-owned platform that allows users to post pictures and short-form videos, may also be affected by the same restrictions, despite not being directly named in the proposed ban.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, launched its own short-video feature, Reels, in 2020.
With approximately 726.8 million users potentially reachable via ads on Instagram Reels, Meta’s platform stands to gain from the TikTok ban. Other social media platforms, including YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch, and Clapper, are also expected to benefit as users seek alternatives to TikTok.
As the Supreme Court deliberates and the deadline for the proposed ban approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, and alternative platforms are positioning themselves to capture the attention of millions of displaced users.
