US TikTok creators brace for ban: Fans urged to stick to Shorts, Reels and Lemon8
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 4:28 am
TikTok creators in the US are urging their followers to look for them on other platforms as the popular short-form video app looks increasingly likely to be banned.
A mix of panic, bewilderment, sadness and outrage is sweeping across TikTok as creators in the U.S. contemplate a future without the app. On Dec. 6, a U.S. federal appeals court unanimously upheld a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese owners, Bytedance, to sell the app or face a ban in the country.
The ruling leaves TikTok , which had rallied its creators to defend itself on free speech grounds, with limited options to continue operating in the U.S. TikTok announced it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and filed an emergency motion to prevent the ban from taking effect on January 19, 2025.
In response, many TikTokers are asking their followers to follow them on Instagram, YouTube, or other networks where they already have a presence. Videos abound with instructions on how to find them on other platforms. Some creators are asking their fans to share their Instagram usernames in the comments, while others suggest that groups of followers collectively decide which platform to move to.
Why do they want to ban TikTok in the US?
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which requires Bytedance to sell TikTok or face a ban, was passed in April 2024 with broad bipartisan support in Congress.
The law gives the US government the power to ban foreign apps that may collect data from American citizens. In practice, this will prevent app stores like Google and Apple from allowing TikTok downloads or updates. It also imposes huge fines on companies that don't comply, but it doesn't make it illegal for users to continue using the app.
The Justice Department says TikTok poses a national security threat because of its massive access to Americans' data and because its Chinese ownership could allow for manipulation by the Chinese government for propaganda purposes.
TikTok has about 170 million users in the US. The platform and its supporters argue that the ban violates the constitutional right to free speech, but the Court of Appeals rejected this argument.
“The First Amendment exists to protect freedom of speech in the U.S. In this case, the government acted to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and limit its ability to collect data from individuals in the U.S.,” the court said.
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Will Donald Trump prevent TikTok from being shut down?
Although Trump tried to ban TikTok in 2020 when he was president, he promised vp it email database to save the app during his recent campaign. However, it now seems increasingly unlikely that he will or can do so.
His initial stance was motivated by his feud with Meta, after he was banned from Facebook following the Capitol riot in January 2021. Trump wanted to prevent Meta from gaining more power, but his support for TikTok has since waned. In a recent interview, Trump hinted that Bytedance should sell TikTok. He also had dinner with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who donated €1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, signaling a change in their relationship.
Can TikTok be saved?
Even if Trump were to support TikTok 100%, there would be little he could do. To reverse the law, Congress would have to pass a new law repealing it, which is difficult given the bipartisan support it had.
Some suggest Trump could order the Justice Department not to enforce the law, but this would also mean app stores and internet services would be operating illegally, risking multimillion-dollar fines if Trump changed his mind.
For its part, Bytedance has said it will not sell TikTok. The Chinese government opposes a sale, and China’s export laws restrict the sale of technologies such as TikTok’s algorithm.
The only realistic option for TikTok to continue operating in the US is for the Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional. So far, the Supreme Court has not confirmed whether it will take up the case
A mix of panic, bewilderment, sadness and outrage is sweeping across TikTok as creators in the U.S. contemplate a future without the app. On Dec. 6, a U.S. federal appeals court unanimously upheld a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese owners, Bytedance, to sell the app or face a ban in the country.
The ruling leaves TikTok , which had rallied its creators to defend itself on free speech grounds, with limited options to continue operating in the U.S. TikTok announced it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and filed an emergency motion to prevent the ban from taking effect on January 19, 2025.
In response, many TikTokers are asking their followers to follow them on Instagram, YouTube, or other networks where they already have a presence. Videos abound with instructions on how to find them on other platforms. Some creators are asking their fans to share their Instagram usernames in the comments, while others suggest that groups of followers collectively decide which platform to move to.
Why do they want to ban TikTok in the US?
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which requires Bytedance to sell TikTok or face a ban, was passed in April 2024 with broad bipartisan support in Congress.
The law gives the US government the power to ban foreign apps that may collect data from American citizens. In practice, this will prevent app stores like Google and Apple from allowing TikTok downloads or updates. It also imposes huge fines on companies that don't comply, but it doesn't make it illegal for users to continue using the app.
The Justice Department says TikTok poses a national security threat because of its massive access to Americans' data and because its Chinese ownership could allow for manipulation by the Chinese government for propaganda purposes.
TikTok has about 170 million users in the US. The platform and its supporters argue that the ban violates the constitutional right to free speech, but the Court of Appeals rejected this argument.
“The First Amendment exists to protect freedom of speech in the U.S. In this case, the government acted to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and limit its ability to collect data from individuals in the U.S.,” the court said.
Influencer Marketing: Shall we take your strategy to the next level?
Our team of experts will be happy to show you our influencer marketing platform in action and discuss your individual needs, goals and aspirations.
Request a demo
Will Donald Trump prevent TikTok from being shut down?
Although Trump tried to ban TikTok in 2020 when he was president, he promised vp it email database to save the app during his recent campaign. However, it now seems increasingly unlikely that he will or can do so.
His initial stance was motivated by his feud with Meta, after he was banned from Facebook following the Capitol riot in January 2021. Trump wanted to prevent Meta from gaining more power, but his support for TikTok has since waned. In a recent interview, Trump hinted that Bytedance should sell TikTok. He also had dinner with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who donated €1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, signaling a change in their relationship.
Can TikTok be saved?
Even if Trump were to support TikTok 100%, there would be little he could do. To reverse the law, Congress would have to pass a new law repealing it, which is difficult given the bipartisan support it had.
Some suggest Trump could order the Justice Department not to enforce the law, but this would also mean app stores and internet services would be operating illegally, risking multimillion-dollar fines if Trump changed his mind.
For its part, Bytedance has said it will not sell TikTok. The Chinese government opposes a sale, and China’s export laws restrict the sale of technologies such as TikTok’s algorithm.
The only realistic option for TikTok to continue operating in the US is for the Supreme Court to declare the law unconstitutional. So far, the Supreme Court has not confirmed whether it will take up the case