Here’s What TikTok Users Can Do If The App Is Banned

Topline

As the Supreme Court seems poised to uphold a law requiring the sale or ban in the U.S. of TikTok, here’s a guide for what its 170 million American users should know.

Key Facts

When Will The Tiktok Ban Happen?

The ban is set to take effect Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court intervenes in favor of TikTok.

What Could Delay The Ban From Taking Effect?

If TikTok claims it has taken steps toward securing a new owner, Trump could impose a 90-day pause on the ban taking effect after he takes office, on Jan. 20. But without clear evidence that’s true, any delay could be on shaky legal ground.

Can You Still Use Tiktok After The Ban?

It appears so. The law would not ban users from using TikTok, nor would it remove it from their phones. However, U.S. app stores and internet service providers would be barred from hosting the app, effectively stopping any new downloads, and that would include any updates for TikTok. That means the app would eventually go defunct and potentially suffer from decreased functionality, performance issues and compatibility problems with new operating systems on users’ phones, tablets, etc.

What Has Tiktok Said About A Ban?

TikTok’s lawyer Noel Francisco said during oral arguments Friday he believed the platform would essentially shut down if the ban takes effect. TikTok’s lawyers also recently argued banning the app from American internet service providers who host it would stop TikTok from being able to “provid[e] the services that enable the TikTok platform to function, effectively shutting down TikTok in the United States.”

Would A Ban Stop Tiktok Content Creators From Making Money On The App?

Yes. In a lawsuit filed by TikTok creators against the government, a lawyer for the creators argued one of their clients would need to get a different job without income from TikTok’s creator fund, the Times reported. The fund, which was first launched with a $200 million investment, was valued at $2 billion in late 2023, according to Time. It was axed that same year but lived on in the form of the TikTok Creativity Program, which also pays creators.

Can You Use A Vpn To Get Around A Tiktok Ban?

TikTok will be removed from internet browsers under a ban, though The New York Times reported it is “likely” users could still be able to access the app on a browser if they use a virtual private network, or VPN, which masks users’ true location.

Can I Save Videos From Tiktok?

Yes, though the most convenient way to save videos is by using TikTok on a desktop. Public videos can be downloaded to a computer by right clicking and selecting “Download video.” For those looking to save TikTok videos through their mobile devices, they can be saved by tapping the share button, which then brings up an option to “Save video.” Third-party services like myfaveTT, a Chrome web browser extension, claim to allow users to export all of their liked and favorited videos to .mp4 files

Is Lemon8 A Good Alternative If Tiktok Is Banned?

No. Lemon8, a TikTok sister app also developed by ByteDance, has been looked at by users as a possible alternative if TikTok is banned. However, the law forcing the ban or sale of TikTok also applies to Lemon8.

What Will Happen To My Tiktok Data If It’s Banned?

Though it is not certain where U.S. users’ TikTok data will go after a ban, it is possible it could be moved to China, as a Forbes investigation found data from Indian users was moved to China after TikTok was banned from India in 2020.

Key Background

The law forcing the sale or ban of TikTok was fueled by bipartisan concerns over national security and data privacy despite the ByteDance denying connections to the Chinese government. The federal government has not publicly disclosed the details behind its concern over TikTok’s impact on national security. However, Forbes has reported on TikTok’s spying on journalists, promotion of Chinese propaganda and the mishandling of users’ data. President Joe Biden signed the bill against TikTok in April, kicking off interest from potential U.S. buyers of the app, which have included Amazon, Oracle, Walmart and Microsoft. Since the bill was signed by Biden, TikTok has argued the law violates its First Amendment rights, pointing out that users would still be able to publish content on the app if it was divested from ByteDance. President-Elect Donald Trump has flipped on the issue, now saying he opposes a ban after supporting one when he was last in office. But if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the ban, Trump’s options to do anything about it are very limited.

Further Reading

Can Trump Stop TikTok Ban? Here’s What He Can—And Can’t—Do As Supreme Court Signals It Could Support Law (Forbes)

How To Save Your Favorite TikTok Videos—Ahead Of Possible Ban Next Month (Forbes)

What To Know About TikTok Alternative Lemon8—And Whether It Could Be Banned, Too (Forbes)