TikTok might be blocked for U.S. users as soon as this Sunday if a federal ban goes through. ByteDance, the app’s parent company, has until then to sell its U.S. branch or face removal from American app stores over concerns about ties to the Chinese government.
Folks who already have TikTok could still use it for a bit, but no new downloads would be allowed, and without updates, it might stop working properly over time.
TikTok plans to protest with a shutdown if banned
Apparently, TikTok has a bold plan if the ban happens: shutting down the app completely for all 150 million U.S. users. If you tried opening it, you’d get a pop-up explaining the ban and linking to a website with more info.
According to Reuters, TikTok also wants to give users the option to save their videos and data before things shut down.
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Service can be restored quickly if the ban is reversed
TikTok says that if the ban is lifted, they’d be able to bring the app back for U.S. users pretty quickly.
TikTok has changed how creators earn a living
TikTok has been a game-changer since it hit the U.S. in 2018. Creators are making serious cash now. Take Khaby Lame, for example — he’s got over 162 million followers and pulls in about $259,000 per post.
Charli D’Amelio, with 155 million followers, makes around $247,000 per video. Even Mr. Beast, who has 106 million followers, rakes in roughly $152,000 per video. It’s totally flipped the script on how creators earn a living.
A law set the legal timeline for TikTok’s ban
In April, President Biden signed a law giving ByteDance until January 19, 2025, to sell its U.S. operations — or face a full ban. Just last week, the Supreme Court seemed ready to uphold this law.
Meanwhile, President Trump, who takes office the day after the deadline, wants more time to figure out a solution to keep TikTok running in the U.S.
Lawmakers are trying to delay or stop the ban
Not everyone is on board with the ban. Senators Ed Markey and Rand Paul, along with Representative Ro Khanna, filed a bipartisan brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s ruling.
They argued there are “less drastic” ways to deal with data security concerns that don’t interfere with constitutional rights. Markey also announced plans to propose a 270-day delay.
TikTok will give users options if it shuts down
If TikTok goes offline this Sunday, people who already have it installed might still be able to use it for a bit. They’d see a message with a link to a website explaining the situation.
TikTok also plans to let users download their personal data, so they don’t lose their videos or info.
TikTok may not work as well without updates
Even if TikTok keeps working for a while after the ban, not getting updates could cause problems. Some features might stop working, and bugs could start popping up.
Over time, the app might not function right at all. Plus, the ban would block internet hosting providers from supporting it, so it wouldn’t even work on web browsers.
VPNs could allow access after the ban
Some people might try to get around the ban by using VPNs, which can hide their location online. It’s a possible workaround, though it might not work for everyone.
TikTok argues that the ban is unconstitutional
TikTok and ByteDance say the ban goes against the First Amendment because it restricts free speech. They’re pushing hard to delay the law and keep TikTok running in the U.S.
A repeal could overturn the ban after it starts
If the ban goes into effect, overturning it would mean repealing the law that made it happen. That would require approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
But since Congress was pretty united in backing the ban last April, it’s not going to be an easy process.
Whether TikTok shuts down or not, it’s clear the app has changed the game. We’ll be watching closely to see how this all plays out!
