Will You Still Be Able to Use TikTok If It Is Banned in the United States?

The ban on TikTok in the United States is approaching. The deadline given by the U.S. Congress for the Chinese social network to be sold is January 19. But there is much uncertainty about what will really happen to the app starting Sunday.
Will users be able to access TikTok?
There is a strong possibility that TikTok will be completely shut down in the United States. During a Supreme Court hearing last week, a TikTok lawyer said the app “will be left in the dark” if the court does not pause the ban approved by Congress.
On Wednesday (15), Reuters reported that TikTok is preparing to shut down its app on Sunday: anyone trying to log into the app will be directed to a message alerting them about the ban and asking them to download their data if they wish. Users in India, who banned TikTok in 2020, are greeted with a similar message.
A total ban means that app stores and third-party service providers are prohibited from hosting the app and its related data. This means that new users will be prevented from downloading the app starting Sunday. Those who already have TikTok on their phones, however, may still have access to the app and would not risk any legal penalties for logging in.
But TikTok will no longer be able to update the software, making it slower and more buggy over time. The app’s security will also weaken, making users more susceptible to hackers. In this scenario, TikTok may face a slow death as its technology degrades and its social fabric weakens with users moving to other platforms.
Is using a VPN an option?
Many TikTok users may try to use a VPN (virtual private network). VPNs encrypt location data, allowing users to make it appear as though they are somewhere else in the world. After X (formerly Twitter) was banned in Brazil, the demand for VPNs surged, despite the government threatening users with a $9,000 fine per day for using such alternative solutions.
Thus, VPNs allow users to access TikTok legally. But it is likely that the experience will not be the same for these users, especially since TikTok’s files cannot be hosted in the U.S. There will be a distance that the data will have to travel, which could degrade the service, as video in particular is highly dependent on high-fidelity broadband internet access.
Will the U.S. government intervene?
Some government members have been trying to save TikTok from its impending death. On Wednesday (15), a group of lawmakers led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey introduced the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, aiming to pause the ban for 270 days. But the original ban was passed with broad bipartisan support, and it is unlikely that this new bill will pass both chambers in time.
President-elect Donald Trump is also interested in pausing the ban, arguing that he should have time as president to seek a “political resolution” to the problem. Once he becomes president, he may temporarily pause the law if ByteDance has initiated the process of selling TikTok. But ByteDance has repeatedly stated that the app is not for sale.
Trump could also order his Department of Justice to refrain from enforcing the law, essentially making it ineffective. In last week’s Supreme Court oral arguments, Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar acknowledged that the President has the discretionary power to do this. But she also said that if ByteDance or third-party providers continued to operate TikTok in the U.S., they would be violating the law, which would make them susceptible to future enforcement.
So, while there are several loopholes for users to remain on TikTok, obstacles will likely lead to a sharp decline in terms of the platform experience. Therefore, unless something drastically unexpected happens in the coming days, content creators will need to look for an alternative platform.
Source: Time Magazine