The TikTok ban drops this week. Everything you need to know
today.
All the details on the ban, what it means for you, and how to stay ahead.
TikTok could be gone in the US by Jan 19, 2025, if ByteDance doesn't sell its US operations.
Trump’s flipped on the ban, but big players like Apple and Google might still yank TikTok from their stores anyway.
If you’re on TikTok, act now: save your data, and explore alternatives like Xiaohongshu.
Alright, indie hackers, hold onto your .io domains — TikTok could vanish from US app stores on January 19, 2025, if ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) doesn’t offload its US part to a non-Chinese company.
The Supreme Court is set to hear TikTok’s case on Friday, January 17. They might try to undo the ban that President Biden put in place last April with the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA). This ban was all about concerns that China could access US user data and cause national security issues. Even though there's a chance the court could reverse the ban, everything right now suggests it’s going to stick. So, it looks like TikTok will probably remain banned unless something big changes quickly.
Ironically, Trump — who originally initiated the idea of banning TikTok in 2020— now opposes it, and he's taking office on January 20. But even if the new administration wanted to backtrack, Apple, Google, and Oracle could yank TikTok from their platforms anyway to dodge penalties.
Another option? Let TikTok go offline for a bit and then bring it back with a three-month extension to buy time for a potential sale.
Trump could also try convincing Congress to ditch the ban altogether, but that’d mean dealing with strong bipartisan support for keeping it in place.
If your marketing funnel relies on TikTok, now’s the time to start brainstorming plan B. The clock’s ticking.
How the ban works
More than 170 million Americans are using TikTok. PAFACA doesn’t tell anyone they have to delete TikTok, and it doesn’t order TikTok to shut down in the US. Instead, it basically tries to choke TikTok off by making it harder to use over time. It also blocks companies from giving TikTok the tech support it needs to keep running smoothly and loading videos fast.
The law basically says it’s “illegal” for anyone to share, update, or maintain the app (including its code) or offer services that keep it running as it does now. That covers stuff like putting TikTok on app stores in the US or hosting it on servers. But there’s one group it doesn’t really target: internet service providers. So, this ban isn’t as hardcore as the ones you’d see in places like Russia or China.
In other words, they want to stop new app downloads and prevent anyone who already has it from updating it, so it slowly decays.
Save your files while you still can
So how can you save your TikTok videos or data? You can grab a copy of your TikTok data, which includes things like your username, watch video history, your comments, and your privacy settings. To do that you need to request and download your files.
Here’s how to request your data right in the app:
Open TikTok and go to your profile by tapping "Profile" at the bottom.
Tap the three lines (menu) in the top right corner.
Select "Settings and privacy."
Go to "Account."
Tap "Download your data."
Choose what you want to download and the file format.
Hit "Request data."
You’ll get a notification in the app once your file is ready. It might take a few days.
To actually download your data:
Head back to your Profile page by tapping "Profile" at the bottom.
Tap the three lines (menu) in the top right.
Select "Settings and privacy."
Go to "Account."
Tap "Download your data."
Check if your request is ready and hit "Download" if it is.
Your file will stay available for up to four days.
Save your video
Quick heads up: TikTok doesn’t let you download all your videos at once, but you can save them one by one.
Repurpose.io lets you download your entire video library straight to Google Drive.
myfaveTT is a Chrome extension that exports all your liked and favorited TikTok videos as .mp4 files.
Triller, which used to be a TikTok rival, has launched SaveMyTikToks.com. It promises to back up all your TikTok videos by uploading them to Triller.
Where to go as a TikTok refugee
People are jumping over to another Chinese social media platform called Xiaohongshu, which means “little red book” in Mandarin but people are calling it Red Note. As of Monday, Xiaohongshu — with over 300 million users — was the top downloaded app in Apple’s US App Store, even though it doesn’t have an official English name.
Xiaohongshu is a mix of e-commerce platforms with video, so pretty much the TikTok Shop vibe.
Coming in second is Lemon8, another social media app from TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, that's also seeing a surge of former TikTok users. It's a kind of Instagramized version of TikTok and it's been promoted by TikTok for the last few weeks.
Potential future
With the US TikTok ban looming, a wild mix of buyers are stepping into the spotlight. Kevin O’Leary from The People’s Bid is ready to snatch up the app, but he’s counting on President-elect Donald Trump to give him the green light.
Then there’s Project Liberty, led by billionaire Frank McCourt, throwing their hat into the ring too. Amazon isn’t staying quiet either, eyeing a piece of the action.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier, word is China might be chatting with Elon Musk about buying TikTok’s US operations, which are valued somewhere between $40 and $50 billion. It’s a real tug-of-war to see who’ll end up owning this social media giant next!
What's next
So there you have it, folks — TikTok might be packing its bags in the US sooner than we thought. If you’ve been putting all your eggs in the TikTok basket, it’s time to rethink that single-channel risk. Relying solely on a rented platform like TikTok can leave your business hanging if things go south. Instead, start building and owning your own channels, like an email list, where you have full control and direct access to your audience.
It's clear the social media landscape is about to get a major makeover. Stay flexible, keep those creative juices flowing, and who knows? This could be the perfect chance to launch your next big idea. Buckle up, indie hackers, because the digital playground is evolving, and it's time to ride the new wave.
Have a story, tip, or trend worth covering? Tell us at [email protected].
收购战把
Very usefull information, thanks
usefull information thanks
Now it is not banned. When they ban the Tiktok, many people show up on DonYin.
I hope it stays banned dude fuck TikTok
The TikTok shutdown in Canada—sparked by national security concerns—mirrors the US ban threat, both targeting ByteDance’s data risks. While Canada’s closure disrupts jobs and creator ecosystems, the US faces a Jan 19 deadline unless TikTok divests. This global crackdown highlights tightening scrutiny on foreign-controlled apps, urging users to secure data and diversify platforms
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I made a website that uses Brain Rot terms from TikTok to help people learn (Memenome) LOL.
Now doubt TikTok ban was a surprise for everyone but in my opinion President did a great job because he unbanned TikTok again. I was happy because I use this app after the spotify.
The TikTok ban isn’t just about losing an app; it’s the beginning of a bigger conversation—can we adapt without social media, or will we embrace new platforms? How are you seeing this change?
The potential TikTok ban in the US is causing major concerns, especially for content creators and businesses relying on the platform. TikTok could be removed from US app stores by January 19, 2025, unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This follows the enactment of the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which could restrict the app’s functioning without fully shutting it down. While there’s some uncertainty, the ban appears likely. Users should take action by saving their data and exploring alternative platforms like Xiaohongshu and Lemon8. In case the ban proceeds, this shift could lead to a surge in competitors vying to purchase TikTok’s US operations. This evolving situation highlights the need for businesses to diversify their digital presence and avoid putting all their reliance on a single platform.
It's a shame because I think many good, decent content creators in the US will be left without a job or an income. And I'm not referring to Pizza reviewers.
The rise of TikTok is like a "spark that starts a prairie fire," with its rapidly spreading influence igniting a widespread blaze across American society. This force, due to its swift growth and extensive reach, has exceeded the expectations and control capabilities of the U.S. government, thereby triggering deep concerns about its potential threats. These concerns are not only related to commercial competition and data security but also to its possible impact on the flow of information, public opinion guidance, and even national security.
What is the reason why u s a is going to ban this? I'm not sure
It's true, there are a lot of people signing the red note
Many of these platforms users use it as engagement farms - just like X, Meta, or any other. In Backend they control the algorithm on the type of engagement they want to grow in a country.. Ever wonder why TikTok’s allowed to run free in the US but X is blocked in China? Simple - Authoritarian regime vs. Democracy. It’s all about collecting data on intent. And if someone's gonna track me, I’d rather it be my own country doing the snooping. After all, China can ban US apps at will, so why can’t the US or India do the same? Funny how that works.
I don't understand it either
Many long-time TikTok users are starting to seek other social platforms, such as Xiaohongshu, to continue their activities.
I am in China, XiaoHongshu is full of ads