Who Is Going To Save TikTok?
Our prediction is that TikTok will not be banned in the United States.
💬 Quick CONVERSATION STARTERS:
Our prediction is that TikTok will not be banned in the United States.
First, how is TikTok preparing to a possible ban?
For a while the consensus was that the TikTok app would have disappeared from the AppStore and the Google Store starting January 19, unless:
Bytedance would have divest its US operations, including the algorithm;
or the US Supreme Court would have intervened (we are still waiting for a decision/opinion from SCOTUS).
If this is still the case, in this scenario, the app would still be operating, but gradually degrade because users would not be able to install updates from the AppStore or the Google Store.
This would also left time to the Trump administration to save TikTok and reinstate it.
But now — according to The Information — TikTok is planning to shut off its app for US users on January 19, causing quite a stir among creators.
In this new scenario, under TikTok’s plan, US users opening the TikTok app would see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban.
TikTok is giving users the option to download all their data.
Second, can TikTok be saved?
Yes, and here are a few options:
While SCOTUS has not announced its decision over TikTok, some of the options available to the Justices are to issue an Administrative Stay or a Temporary Injunction. That would give time to Congress or the Trump administration to rewrite the law that would ban the app in the US.
In the meantime, President-elect Donald Trump — according to the Washington Post — is considering issuing an executive order once in office — and thus after the January 19 ban — that would suspend enforcement of the TikTok ban-or-sale law for 60 to 90 days.
Also, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) yesterday announced the introduction of the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, legislation that would delay the January 19 ban by an additional 270 days.
The same group of Senators has reportedly asked President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to block the ban for 60 to 90 days.
According to NBC, the Biden’s administration is considering ways to keep TikTok available in the United States if a ban that’s scheduled to go into effect Sunday proceeds, according to three people familiar with the discussions. “Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,” an administration official said, adding that officials are “exploring options” for how to implement the law so TikTok does not go dark Sunday.
🚨 UPDATE (01/16): The Biden administration doesn't plan to enforce the TikTok ban and to take action that forces TikTok to immediately go dark for US users on Sunday.
🚨 UPDATE (01/17): SCOTUS has upheld the TikTok ban.
Third, what are some of the alternatives?
Some new-er apps are emerging:
Recently, some US TikTok users have flocked to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, or RedNote. Like TikTok, Xiaohongshu, which in English means “Little Red Book,” combines e-commerce and short-form videos.
Lemon8 is a lesser-known lifestyle app that allows users to post pictures and short-form videos. It is also owned by TikTok’s parent company Bytedance, and thus susceptible to be banned on January 19.
Clapper, a TikTok clone, has also been gaining some traction. The app was launched in 2020 by Dallas-based entrepreneur Edison Chen, and focuses on Gen X and millennial users.
Among the alternatives also some of the most notable social media tools, like Instagram, Youtube, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Pinterest.
Here’s a poll by
of :And let’s not forget Substack!
In fact, Substack co-founders
and have put out a $25,000 prize to inspire TikTok creators to post about Substack on TikTok in an effort to attract new users to the platform.Chris spoke to
of .Fourth, do you have any questions about the future of TikTok?
No matter what happens on or before January 19, here’s your chance to ask your questions to TikTok and Substack creator
of on January 21 at 12pm ET:
The TikTok Ban: A Psychological Power Play
Donald Trump’s handling of the TikTok ban is a textbook example of psychological manipulation targeting Gen Z. Here’s how the strategy worked:
1. Manufactured Crisis
By framing TikTok as a national security threat, Trump exploited the illusory truth effect—repeating a claim until it felt true. Targeting TikTok, a Gen Z cultural hub, triggered reactance psychology, where restrictions fuel rebellion, making his eventual reversal more impactful.
2. Perception of Power
Trump’s decision to lift the ban created the illusion he was more powerful than Congress. This leveraged the halo effect, positioning him as an independent disruptor, resonating with Gen Z’s distrust of traditional institutions.
3. Oversimplified Narratives
The ban boiled down to “Trump vs. Congress,” exploiting Gen Z’s reliance on quick, surface-level content. This relied on heuristics—mental shortcuts that simplified the issue, obscuring the deeper manipulation at play.
Takeaway for Gen Z
Trump’s TikTok manoeuvre reveals how easily emotional triggers and oversimplified narratives can be used to manipulate even the most skeptical generation. The solution? Stay critical, dig deeper, and question who benefits from the spectacle.
GQ