TikTok users in the US are in a state of disappointment, denial and confusion after hearing the news that ByteDance will stop TikTok from January 19. That means about 170 million users in the US will no longer be able to use this social network, according to Reuters .
The decision appears to be an abandonment of efforts to maintain the popular video-sharing platform.
For months, those who have built careers and large followings on TikTok have hoped that the app would find a way to avoid the ban, which is set to become law in 2023. But resignation and anger are setting in as Jan. 19 approaches.
“It’s sad and hard to accept that TikTok is giving up,” said Joonsuk Shin, 28, a research and content manager in New York.
Some users are calling for boycotts of apps like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, or Elon Musk’s X, which are platforms that are expected to attract advertisers who have been tied to TikTok.
“Everyone needs to delete their Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts on the same day,” one user expressed.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has until January 19 to sell TikTok’s US assets or the app will be banned. Lawmakers fear the app poses a national security threat because China could force the company to share US user data. TikTok denies it has done or will do this.
TikTok and ByteDance have tried to delay implementation of the law, arguing that it violates free speech rights under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
If the Supreme Court does not block the ban, users who open the app on January 19 will see a message and be redirected to a website explaining the shutdown.
Amber Goode, 28, a content creator in Colorado Springs, complained about waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Why are they taking so long?” Goode said. “I feel like the government has the answer, but they’re not saying it.”
The Washington Post reported that President-elect Donald Trump is considering an executive order to “save TikTok.” However, it is unclear whether such an order would prevent a ban.
Many users have begun saying goodbye to TikTok this week, sharing information about where their followers will continue to find them. Many have turned to Chinese apps like RedNote, using translation tools to understand the sign-up instructions, which are written in Chinese.
Some people are still hoping that the January 19 deadline will be extended by 270 days. Meanwhile, some people joked that they learned some basic Chinese sentences from RedNote. This led many TikTok users to wonder: “How did people learn Chinese in 24 hours so quickly?”
Many people are trying to save content before it’s too late.
“My daughter passed away in 2023. I saved all her videos on my phone. I can’t lose them,” one user shared.
Some people thanked ByteDance for not giving in to pressure, while others criticized it for doing the opposite.
“It’s sad. I thought we were making progress,” said Ishpal Sidhu, 32, a former lawyer and full-time creator who is at risk of losing nearly 400,000 followers and her TikTok income. She also worries about whether she will still be paid for content in January.
Non-US users have a different view. Some are happy that their algorithms will no longer be affected by US social media issues.
“Goodbye Americans,” said Luke Hopewell, a content creator in New Zealand.
