With the TikTok ban looming on January 19, 2025, American users and businesses are bracing for the platform to potentially go dark. Many are frantically exploring alternatives at the last minute.
On January 10, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, made a final push to prevent the ban during a Supreme Court hearing. The justices were split on whether banning TikTok would violate First Amendment rights, focusing instead on concerns about Chinese control of user data. TikTok allegedly risked transferring information about its users to China, where the government could demand access. This issue had already influenced decisions to curb Huawei’s presence in Western networks.
During the hearing, TikTok’s lawyers pointed out that user data is stored in a facility owned by Oracle in Virginia, just a short distance from the court. The Supreme Court has yet to make a formal decision; it could either uphold the ban, delay the deadline, or do nothing at all.
Meanwhile, on January 13, Democratic Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts announced plans to introduce legislation that would extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok by 270 days. Markey noted that TikTok users are understandably anxious about their accounts and the vibrant communities they’ve built, arguing that a ban would unfairly dismantle a unique cultural ecosystem.
As speculation swirls in Washington, one notable rumor is that ByteDance might sell TikTok to Elon Musk, who is now positioned as a close ally of the incoming president. TikTok quickly dismissed this notion as “pure fiction.”
If TikTok does go dark this weekend, users will receive a prompt to visit a website detailing the ban and offering the option to download their data. This move is more extensive than the ban’s requirements, which only prohibit new downloads from app stores while allowing current users to continue using it temporarily. However, without updates, the app would quickly become unusable.
As this unfolds, many TikTok users are feeling lost. Some are considering using VPNs to bypass the ban. In the short term, Meta’s Instagram might serve as the most viable alternative, as it shifts its focus to video content, but its track record on data privacy raises concerns. Additionally, Meta’s recent changes to its policies have faced backlash, particularly regarding protections for marginalized groups, pushing some users to look elsewhere.
For others, the alternative appears to be RedNote, a China-owned app similar to TikTok. While it might seem like a quick fix, experts warn of potential security and privacy risks similar to those associated with TikTok. RedNote, like TikTok, falls under Chinese laws that could allow the government access to user data. The app also collects extensive personal information, and its terms are primarily in Mandarin, making it hard for non-Chinese speakers to understand what data is collected.
Security experts urge social media users to think twice before making the switch to RedNote. The same concerns regarding transparency and national security that impact TikTok apply here as well. Scammers also target such newer apps, meaning users must stay vigilant when exploring options.
Overall, switching platforms comes with its own set of challenges, highlighting the need for careful consideration and awareness of privacy settings to protect personal information.