Will TikTok be banned? As millions of US users endure legal limbo, they’ve begun looking at surprising alternatives to the social media platform. If you’ve been living under a rock and are unaware of the drama happening on TikTok, here’s the who, what, when, where and why of what a Tiktok ban would mean for the future of social media.
A TikTok Ban? Why?
Citing national security concerns, in April last year US President Joe Biden signed the sell-or-ban bill demanding TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, to be sold to a U.S. owner within a year or face a shut down. US legislators are worried that TikTok might share American user data with the Chinese government, whether voluntarily or under Chinese law.
The US Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling by January 19, 2025.
Technology and data security concerns are increasingly becoming common between various countries and China. Governments all over the world have grown increasingly cautious about apps and companies tied to the Red Dragon of the East, fearing they could be used for spying or spreading propaganda. Back in 2022, the US banned the sale and import of new communications equipment from five Chinese companies.
Economic Effect
Despite its country of origin, Tiktok is one of the most popular apps in the US, with well over 170 million active users. Apart from casual users using it for their daily fix of whatever is currently viral, small-medium enterprises have also learned to leverage TikTok’s reach, using it as a tool to boost their marketing and sales. A Tiktok ban wouldn’t just be an annoyance of searching for the next social media platform – it could also result to considerable financial harm. In 2023, Tiktok reported that it drove $15 billion in revenue for small businesses in the US.
The US is also the home ground of several TikTok giants – creators that have turned their online clout into lucrative cash cows. A TikTok ban could be a major headache for these creators.
The Rise of Xiaohongshu
With the impending ban, it’s only natural that US TikTokers have begun looking at other platforms. One (surprising) option is Xiaohongshu (“Little Red Book" or "RedNote” in English) – a Chinese social media platform that doesn’t even have English instructions. Barely a decade old, Xiaohongshu boasts over 300 million monthly active users.
Dubbing themselves as ‘TikTok Refugees’, US TikTok users have begun using the Chinese app, propelling Xiaohongshu to the No. 1 spot for free apps on the U.S. App Store.
The Chinese platform has several elements working for it. Drawing from the functionalities and aesthetics of Instagram and Pinterest, Xiaohongshu is used primarily for lifestyle content (travel, fashion, and beauty). The app’s relatively young user base (under 30) makes it appealing to the TikTok demographic.
However, the US migration goes beyond the apps’ features. Several users have expressed that they moved to the Chinese app precisely because the US government wants TikTok banned due to its Chinese connections. ‘Trolling’ their own government is their form of protest. Others stated that they would also choose an app even if they can’t read the instructions – as long as Zuckerberg doesn’t own it.
The irony of American users migrating to a Chinese app amid concerns over data security is noteworthy. This trend not only highlights the complexities of digital globalization, where geopolitical considerations take a step back, but also the increasing aggravation of users to well-entrenched platforms such as Meta.
Broader Implications
The potential TikTok ban underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms, particularly concerning data privacy and national security. It also reflects the challenges of regulating digital spaces in an interconnected world. For users and creators, this situation serves as a reminder of the importance of diversifying their online presence to mitigate platform-specific risks.