The TikTok Shutdown is Imminent
On Sunday, January 19, the TikTok ban will receive a final decision. This ban would impact hundreds of millions of users and creators creating mass ripple effects in the social media sphere. TikTok’s parent company ByteDance must sell its United States assets by Sunday or else the nationwide ban will happen. With mere hours left before a decision is made, U.S. based users and creators must make critical decisions about how to move forward.
How Will the Ban Impact Users?
With 16.75 percent — roughly one-fifth — of TikTok's users being American, the potential impact of the ban is significant. According to Reuters, the ban would involve a pop-up notification directing users to a website explaining the situation whenever they attempt to open the app. Additionally, TikTok would be removed from app stores, and access to the platform from within the U.S. would no longer be possible.
NBC has reported that the Biden Administration is considering options to delay the ban. President elect Donald Trump who previously sought to ban the app in his first term of presidency is now vowing to “save” the app and is attempting to issue an executive order that would suspend the ban for another 60 to 90 days. Though there is no clarity surrounding how he would be legally allowed to issue the order.
For now, users and creators should expect to not see any immediate action taken by Sunday, January 19 but to receive answers by then.
Alternative Platforms: Making the Switch
With several U.S. based creators making a portion of their living off of the TikTok Creator Fund and as many creators have built their platform off of the app, many have had to make switches to other platforms in bracing for the impact the prospective ban will have on their livelihood. Many creators who have already been utilizing Instagram Reels — a similar short-form content style as Tiktok — will continue to rely on it to transition their audience.
Many other creators and social media managers have advised creators to adopt more long-form content and transition back to Youtube in place of TikTok. A similar move occurred when Vine shut down in 2017 — old vine stars like Gabbie Hanna, the Dolan Twins, Liza Koshy and many more moved to Youtube in droves prompting a renewal of longform content. In 2025, if the TikTok ban does go into effect, users can expect a resurgence of long form content again and creators should adapt their platforms accordingly.
Currently regular users have been downloading and joining a TikTok alternative, a Chinese app called RedNote as an act of protest to the current ban. Several memes have been floating around with Americans learning Mandarin in order to interact with the app that is written in the language. Chinese users of the app have been warmly welcoming U.S. based users with one woman writing “in the clerb, we all fam.” While this app also tracks American data, this fact seems to be driving more and more U.S. users to download it.
What Creators Should Be Doing
While the app will not shut off overnight, creators should begin preparing immediately for when the ban eventually goes into full effect. Even without the implementation of the ban, the tiresome legislation surrounding TikTok makes it an unstable place in the creator economy. The first step in dealing with this impending change is to download all of your data, any videos and record your current performance analytics if you are a creator on the platform.
Although TikTok may be moot, with enough preparation creators can transition to other platforms and bring some of their audience if this is not already the case. Instagram, Youtube and X remain viable options according to the kind of content a creator makes. Other platforms of interest include Substack which has a promising future for those interested in longer form writing or Pinterest for those marketing a business.
Does This Mark the End of TikTok in the United States?
On January 17 the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government can in fact legally shut down the app which was a striking blow to the ongoing court proceedings. The court’s decision means that beginning January 19, Apple and Google will be unable to offer the app on their stores. Although the ban will have started on January 19, with Donald Trump’s inauguration being on January 20, he could hypothetically extend the ban start date.
For now TikTok’s future in the U.S. looks grim at best but there will be more appeals and legislation in the near future. The only thing to do at this time is save your videos and data and hope for an eventual reversal but prepare for the ban to remain.
