Is it just me, or does it feel like 2025 is off to a rocky start? We’ve already seen a string of celebrity breakups, the presidential inauguration is right around the corner, and devastating wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Los Angeles. And if that wasn’t enough, let’s not forget —TikTok is on the verge of being banned in the United States.
ICYMI, this isn’t the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny in the U.S., but this time, the threat feels very real. The app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has long been under fire for national security concerns, with critics alleging that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. While TikTok has repeatedly denied these claims and implemented measures to safeguard American users’ information, it hasn’t been enough to satisfy U.S. lawmakers.
Now, after years of debates, drama, and bans on government devices, a nationwide TikTok ban is closer than ever. Congress recently passed a bill that would allow the government to block the app entirely, claiming it poses risks to privacy and national security. The ban is set to take effect on Jan. 19 — unless ByteDance sells TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer, which, let’s be real, doesn’t seem likely to happen.
So, What Happens If TikTok Gets Banned?
There’s still quite a bit of confusion in regard to what will happen if the ban does go into effect, but here’s the most pertinent info: The first major impact of the ban would likely be TikTok’s removal from the Apple App Store and Google Play. This means you wouldn’t be able to download the app if you don’t already have it, and you wouldn’t be able to install updates if you do. For those of us who are already glued to our TikTok FYP, this might not sound like a big deal at first — but over time, the lack of updates could cause the app to become buggy, outdated, or even unusable as phones and operating systems continue to evolve.
Further, if the Supreme Court passes the law banning TikTok, that law would penalize internet hosting services and app stores that offer TikTok, meaning the app would be extremely hard, if not impossible, to access in the U.S. In this scenario, accessing TikTok could become much harder, requiring workarounds like forcing users to use virtual private networks (aka VPNs) — and even then, you could get in trouble for doing so. “There would be a penalty and punishment, likely fines,” business litigator Neil Elan told Dextero in a Jan. 14 interview. I wouldn’t recommend using a VPN to get around the law, although I do know that it is common. Whether the lawmakers turn a blind eye or whether it’s strictly enforced is a risk that the user will take.”
Even if you decide to risk it all to keep scrolling, you might not be able to. According to the BBC, a lawyer for TikTok told SCOTUS that the app will “go dark” on Jan. 19 if the court doesn’t strike down the law or at least allow a for a deadline delay, meaning there won’t even be an app for people in the U.S. to access.
Could Donald Trump reverse the TikTok ban?
Although previously against TikTok, Trump has changed his tune, saying the app has a “warm spot in [his] heart.” It’s unclear whether Trump — who takes office on Jan. 20, one day after the ban is set to take effect — will sign an executive order to protect the app, find another way to circumvent the law, or simply let the platform die.
In short, TikTok users may just have to wait and see what happens when Jan. 19 rolls around.