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The creators and users of TikTokare facing the reality that the popular short video app will be
A law that would close TikTok in the country could come into force if ByteDance does not sell the app and the Supreme Court does not block the law. Photo: Reproduction
A law that would effectively shut down TikTok across the country could come into force on Sunday if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the app and if the
TikTok, which has 170 million monthly users in the United States, faced competition from other apps trying to replicate its short-form video capabilities.
But TikTok has emerged as a leader in fast-paced entertainment and as a way for creators to build a business or advertise for brands.
Many of its content creators began saying goodbye and discussing their future plans.
One creator, who goes by the name Neiltheceo, said: “TikTok is leaving the US on the 19th of this month. I don’t go to Instagram…I don’t like Instagram, I don’t go there. Maybe I’ll just hang up the phone.”
The creators say goodbye
TikTok ban could lead toloss of income for breederswhose partnerships, monetization and followers are not guaranteed if they migrate to other platforms.
TikTok creator Britton Copeland posted a video that floated the idea of boycotting all social media in response to the ban.
She explained that TikTok helped her get an agent for a book she plans to release. Copeland also noted that creators “can’t just not work.”
“It’s a shame because I feel like I’m so close — so close to realizing my dream,” she said.
A breeder known as Mrs. Space Cadet, who has nearly 1 million followers, said TikTok “started the career I have now.”
In the comments section, she said that she is on Instagram and has started posting on YouTube. “I know it’s not the same, but it’s something,” she said.
Duke Depp, who amassed nearly 20 million followers by dressing up as Willy Wonka, took a trip down memory lane by reposting viral moments. He encouraged users to sign up for their YouTube and Snapchat accounts.
“I’ve been using my account all week to remember PEAK Tiktok, before the platform ends for good,” he commented.
Anyone who wants continuous access to the app can move to another country, joked a creator in a video posted on the platform.
“It’s like summer camp is over and we’ll never see our camp friends again,” said one user in another post.
Users look for alternatives
There are limited options for sharing short videos other than Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
Lemon8, a photo and video sharing app also owned by ByteDance, gained popularity during previous threats to ban TikTok but could also be banned under US law.
Around 180,000 users have signed up to Neptune, an app expected to launch in 2025. The app’s website says it will have a customizable algorithm, monetization, and no follower counts.
“If we want another TikTok, this will have to happen naturally,” one user posted. They said this ban is similar to when Vine closed and users migrated to YouTube and Musical.ly, which merged with TikTok in 2018.
One user commented: “I have videos dating back to 2016… why are they erasing my memories?”
Video-sharing competitor Triller tried to capitalize on these concerns by creating Save My TikToks, which will upload TikTok videos to the Triller app.
Users who have recently joined the app may have a short experience. A “millennial elder” posted on TikTok that she was hesitant to join. After using the app for a few months, she realized “how terrible the other (social media apps) are.”
Google’s parent company Alphabet and Apple are set to remove TikTok from US app stores following a ban, meaning the app will not have updates or be available for download.
Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan posted on X: “If TikTok goes away, will my body just evaporate like that Avengers movie?”
Can TikTok be saved?
A ByteDance said repeatedly that TikTok is not for sale.
In March, Steve Mnuchin, who served as Treasury secretary during Donald Trump’s first term, said he had assembled a group of investors to buy TikTok.
“Shark Tank” co-host Kevin O’Leary told Yahoo! Finance last week that he is part of a group that is prepared to pay up to $20 billion for TikTok.
But there are major obstacles, including narrow window to close a chordoeo widely varying value of the application. A buyer would also likely not have access to the app’s powerful algorithm for hooking users, which is what makes TikTok so valuable.
