What Happens If TikTok Is Banned in the US?

TikTok could be banned in the US on January 19, unless the Supreme Court accepts a last-minute legal bid from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, arguing that the ban would be unconstitutional.

Even if the Supreme Court agrees with lower courts and Congress that TikTok poses a national security threat, the question remains: will this actually stop Americans from using the app? Are there ways to bypass the ban? And could President-elect Donald Trump find a way to prevent a law he opposes, even if upheld by the courts? Moreover, who stands to benefit from the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future?

Can People Still Use TikTok If It’s Banned?

The most likely way the US would ban TikTok is by instructing app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store to remove it from their platforms. US lawmakers have already told tech firms to be ready to pull the app if a ban goes into effect.

If TikTok is banned, people who have already downloaded the app could still use it, but they would no longer be able to get updates, which would eventually make the app buggy and, over time, unusable. Without updates, security flaws in the app could expose millions of devices to hackers.

There are ways to bypass such a ban, such as using a VPN (virtual private network) to make it seem like you’re in a different region. Users can also change their region settings on app stores to access apps from other countries, though this could lead to other issues and potentially break terms of service. Additionally, it’s possible to install apps directly from the internet, but this may violate copyright law and could carry other risks. The government is anticipating this by proposing a ban on internet hosting services that provide access to TikTok.

So, while determined users may still access TikTok, it won’t be the same experience, and it might not be entirely secure.

Other Possible Banning Methods

In 2020, India banned TikTok and blocked access to the app entirely through internet providers. Even with VPNs, TikTok could still potentially block users in the US by detecting their location and presenting a message saying the app isn’t available in their country. TikTok has reportedly considered complying with the US government’s ban.

TikTok’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that the app will “go dark” in the US unless the court rules in its favor. Experts, however, remain uncertain about what will happen next. Professor Milton L. Mueller from the Georgia Institute of Technology highlighted that a TikTok ban could significantly change the internet landscape, legitimizing fragmentation based on national boundaries.

Could Trump Intervene?

President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear he opposes the law and has urged the Supreme Court to delay its implementation. However, if the court upholds the ban, Trump would not have the power to overturn it directly. He could, however, instruct the Department of Justice to refrain from enforcing it, potentially allowing companies like Apple and Google to keep TikTok accessible in defiance of the law. While this may reduce enforcement, it could cause legal confusion for those companies.

What Platforms Could People Turn To Instead?

TikTok has 170 million users in the US, with each spending an average of 51 minutes per day on the app in 2024. A ban would create significant opportunities for competitors like Instagram Reels (owned by Meta) and YouTube Shorts (owned by Google), says Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Insider Intelligence. Facebook could also benefit, though Meta’s controversial policy changes could affect its popularity.

A ban could also boost platforms like Lemon8, owned by ByteDance, but the US government may extend the ban to other apps operated by ByteDance. Other potential competitors include Twitch, which has gained popularity for live streaming, and Chinese-owned platforms like Xiaohongshu (RedNote in the US).

However, no current app truly matches TikTok’s unique features, such as TikTok Shop, which lets users buy products directly from videos—a key revenue driver for US creators.

Could TikTok Be Sold?

ByteDance has firmly stated it is not interested in selling TikTok, but that could change if the app is banned. Potential buyers have already expressed interest, including Elon Musk, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt, who has gathered $20 billion in verbal commitments to bid for TikTok. Even YouTuber MrBeast, known for his massive following on TikTok, has joked about entering the bidding race, although he has a strong financial incentive to save the platform.

The future of TikTok remains uncertain, and much will depend on the legal and political developments in the coming months.