Topline

With the Supreme Court seemingly poised to uphold a law requiring the sale or ban of TikTok in the US, here’s a guide to what America’s 170 million users should know.

Important facts

When will the Tiktok ban come?

The ban is set to take effect on January 19th unless the Supreme Court intervenes in TikTok’s favor.

What could delay the ban’s entry into force?

If TikTok claims it has taken steps to find a new owner, Trump could face a 90-day pause after he takes office on January 20 until the ban takes effect.

Can you still use Tiktok after the ban?

It seems so. The law would neither ban users from using TikTok nor remove it from their phones. However, US app stores and internet service providers would be banned from hosting the app, effectively stopping all new downloads, and that would include any updates to TikTok. This means that the app would eventually stop working and would potentially suffer from reduced functionality, performance issues, and compatibility issues with new operating systems on users’ phones, tablets, etc.

What did Tiktok say about a ban?

TikTok’s lawyer Noel Francisco said during Friday’s hearing that he believes the platform would essentially be shut down if the ban goes into effect. TikTok’s lawyers also recently argued that a ban on the app from American internet service providers that host it would prevent TikTok from “providing” 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, an attorney for the creators argued that without income from TikTok’s creator fund, one of their clients would have to take another job, the Times reported. According to Time, the fund, which initially launched with a $200 million investment, was valued at $2 billion at the end of 2023. It was discontinued that same year, but lived on in the form of the TikTok Creativity Program, which also pays creators.

Can you use a VPN to bypass a Tiktok ban?

TikTok is being removed from internet browsers due to a ban, although The New York Times reported that it is “likely” that users will still be able to access the app through a browser if they use a virtual private network, or VPN, that impersonates users obscures location.

Can I save videos from Tiktok?

Yes, although the most convenient way to save videos is to use TikTok on a desktop. Public videos can be downloaded to a computer by right-clicking and selecting “Download Video.” Those who want to save TikTok videos via their mobile devices can save them by tapping on the share button. You will then see the Save Video option. Third-party services such as myfaveTT, a Chrome web browser extension, claim to allow users to export all of their likes and favorite 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 seen by users as a possible alternative in the event that TikTok is banned. However, the law that enforces the ban or sale of TikTok also applies to Lemon8.

What happens to my Tiktok data if it is blocked?

Although it is not certain where US users’ TikTok data will go after a ban, it is possible that it will move to China, as a Forbes investigation found that Indian users’ data was moved to China after TikTok was banned from India in 2020.

Important background

The law forcing the sale or ban of TikTok was fueled by bipartisan concerns about national security and privacy, although ByteDance denied ties to the Chinese government. The federal government has not publicly disclosed the details of its concerns about TikTok’s impact on national security. However, Forbes has reported on TikTok’s spying on journalists, promotion of Chinese propaganda and misuse of user data. President Joe Biden signed the anti-TikTok bill into law in April, sparking interest from potential U.S. buyers of the app, including Amazon, Oracle, Walmart and Microsoft. Since Biden signed the bill, TikTok has argued that the law violates its First Amendment rights, noting that users would still be able to post content on the app if it were divested by ByteDance. President-elect Donald Trump has flipped the issue and now says he opposes a ban after supporting one in his last term in office. However, if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the ban, Trump’s ability to do anything about it will be very limited.

Further reading

Can Trump stop the TikTok ban? Here’s what he can do – and what he can’t do – as the Supreme Court signals it may support the law (Forbes)

How to Save Your Favorite TikTok Videos — Ahead of a Possible Ban Next Month (Forbes)

What you should know about the TikTok alternative Lemon8 – and whether it could be banned (Forbes)