When the ban happens, TikTok will be removed from app stores, so if you don’t already have it downloaded before Jan. 19, you will not be able to do so. The app’s parent company ByteDance will also no longer be able to offer updates to the app, meaning that eventually the app will be unusable.
However, there is currently a proposal in the U.S. Senate by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey called the “Extend the TikTok Deadline Act,” which would give ByteDance an additional 270 days to sell the app, therefore delaying the ban, according to CBS News. Markey has been a proponent of the app, and recently submitted a bipartisan brief to repeal the ban entirely, noting that Congress’ reasons for the ban lack evidence and violate first amendment rights. At this time, it remains to be seen if Markey’s legislation will be accepted.
What other apps are like TikTok?
When it comes to apps that are similar to TikTok, social media users believe the top three contenders are: Meta’s Instagram (which offers Reels), RedNote and Lemon8. Instagram has been pushing Reels as a direct competitor to TikTok over the past few years with its short videos.
RedNote is not a one-to-one TikTok clone, but does offer short-form video.
Lemon8 is another option; however, it has more in common with Pinterest and, because it is also owned by ByteDance, could face similar issues to TikTok.
Some TikTok users have even suggested going back to Tumblr, which saw the height of its popularity in the mid-2010s.
