Since taking the Oval Office, Trump has twice extended the TikTok ban date, indicating his utmost priority not to ban the social media platform. By 2024, the platform had 170 million US users, generating a revenue of $10 billion. This immense popularity and usage by creators and advertisers is a bottleneck for the US government to ban this app. However, if the deal is not finalized between ByteDance and a non-Chinese investor, the US government, like India,  would have to ban this app owing to security concerns. 

When is TikTok getting banned in the US? 

On April 5, Trump extended the deadline for TikTok’s ban by an additional 75 days, allowing negotiations for a potential deal between U.S investors and ByteDance to move ahead. The first extension was given by Trump on January 19. According to executive orders, the ban was to go into effect on April 5, and will now be deferred under this new executive order.

The ban was imposed on the social media platform by the former US President Joe Biden due to security threats associated with the platform. However, ByteDance was given a deadline of January 19 to sell the US operations of TikTok so that the platform would not be banned. 

Why is TikTok getting banned? 

TikTok is getting banned in the US due to security threats, including users’ data breaches and Chinese ownership of the platform. However, a recent survey conducted over 5000 US adults by Pew Research Center found that fewer US adults considered the platform a threat to national security. According to the survey, 49% of the US citizens considered the platform a threat to national security, compared to 59% in March 2023. The study also showed a decline in public support for the TikTok ban, with 34% of US adults supporting the social media platform ban, which was 50% in 2023. 

The survey provided four reasons to the US citizens, highlighting the potential rationale behind their support for the ban. According to the study, 83% of US citizens think TikTok is a data security threat, while 75% of Americans showed their concern over the Chinese ownership of the platform. In parallel, 54% of Americans think TikTok is a source of misinformation, while 46% support the TikTok ban due to users’ usage time.  

Best Alternatives if TikTok is banned in the US 

TikTok is a social media app that gained popularity due to its short video feature, allowing creators, advertisers, vloggers, and teenagers to display their content and creativity. As of December 2023, the average time spent on TikTok was 95 minutes per day, more than any other social network. The platform went viral during COVID-19, and now it is a source of income for millions of US users. If the platform is banned, users have the following alternatives: 

  • Virtual Private Network (VPN): For those TikTok creators who have a global outreach and for those who want to use TikTok at any cost, could download a VPN and continue using the short video platform. 
  • Facebook Reels: Facebook has the largest monthly active users worldwide, reaching 3.07 billion. Therefore, it is the best alternative for those who want their content to reach globally without any hiccup. Users can create up to 90-second reels on this platform. 
  • YouTube: Considering 2.53 billion monthly active users of YouTube, this platform offers a great alternative for TikTokers. Those who only use TikTok to watch content can use this platform to see even extended videos, increasing their span of attention, which has been disturbed due to short videos. Parents could especially think of this platform for their children who have been spoiled by short videos. 
  • Instagram Reels: Instagram is the best alternative for those creators who are cautious about aesthetics and filters. Instagram has its filters, therefore, it is a likely alternative for TikTok creators, especially interested in fashion, arts, vlogging, etc. 
  • Snapchat: Snapchat is a growing popular day by day due to its streak feature, personalizing, the social media platform. It also has the feature of sharing short videos publicly, making a likeable alternative to TikTok. 

For those TikTok creators who cannot afford to lose followers, they need to switch to these platforms beforehand, making shoutouts about their new accounts, before the platform is banned.