The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to uphold a law requiring TikTok to either divest from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban starting January 19, 2025. Here’s a concise guide for TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users:
When Will the Ban Take Effect?
The ban is set to begin on January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court intervenes in favor of TikTok.
TikTok’s Plan for the Ban
If the ban proceeds, TikTok reportedly plans to block U.S. users entirely, with app access restricted and a pop-up linking to information about the ban.
Employee Updates
TikTok assured U.S. staff their jobs, pay, and benefits are secure, even if the app shuts down domestically.
Will a Ban Impact Creators?
Yes, TikTok creators will lose income opportunities, including from programs like the TikTok Creativity Program, which replaced the earlier Creator Fund.
Using a VPN to Access TikTok
A VPN might allow browser access, but without app updates, TikTok would eventually become obsolete due to performance and compatibility issues.
Saving Your TikTok Videos
Save your favorite videos now! Use TikTok’s mobile or desktop download features or third-party tools to back up your content.
Alternatives to TikTok
Lemon8, another ByteDance app, is not a viable alternative, as the law applies to it as well.
What Happens to Your TikTok Data?
Data may be moved to China, as seen in India after its TikTok ban in 2020.
Why the Ban?
The bipartisan push to ban TikTok stems from national security and data privacy concerns, including allegations of ByteDance mishandling data and promoting Chinese propaganda. While TikTok denies these claims, the U.S. government remains firm in its stance.
If the Supreme Court upholds the ban, U.S. users should prepare for alternatives and protect their content before January 19, 2025.