TikTok users across the United States are in distress about the upcoming ban of the app on Jan. 19. TikTok, an app that allows users to create, share and watch short-form videos, could be banned due to a law passed by Congress that set Jan. 19 as the deadline for TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, a Chinese internet technology company, to sell the app to a U.S. company or shut down operations within the country. The law was passed due to the U.S. government’s belief that TikTok having access to American citizens’ information is a threat to national security.
As the deadline approaches and ByteDance has yet to sell their app to a U.S. company, many Americans are preparing for the seemingly inevitable loss of their beloved app. Some are not ready to say good-bye and are taking advantage of their remaining moments with the app by posting their favorite trends, audios, and dances, while others are compiling and reminiscing on their memories made and moving to different social media platforms.
“I’m lowkey sad because I can’t even see the LeBron edits no more or the LeBron glaze moments or like top ten LeBron moments of all time,” said senior Austin Nguyen.
Due to the ban, many new apps are sprouting up as alternatives for TikTok. Other Chinese apps such as Lemon8 and Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, are receiving an influx of American users. According to AP News, a news agency dedicated to spreading accurate reporting of global news, Xiaohongshu has become the top downloaded app in the U.S. since Jan. 13. Ironically, it’s a Chinese owned-platform which is what initially caused the issue.
As many users, labeling themselves as “TikTok Refugees,” are moving to new apps, others are refusing to as a display of loyalty to TikTok.
“Man, like, they’ll never hit the same as TikTok because, like, I always get inspiration from TikTok outfits and stuff like that,” said Nguyen.
TikTok will always be remembered for its key contributions to pop culture, such as brain rot, stupid and mindless internet content, and dances that are still engraved in the minds of many teenagers today like the Renegade and the Say So dance, and its impact on the identities of Generation Z, ranging from their style to their music taste.
Billionaires, such as Mr. Beast who said via X, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” expressed wanting to buy the app and Senator Ed Markey planned to introduce a bill that will delay TikTok’s ban. As of Jan. 17, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law that will ban TikTok on Sunday.
For now, users should spend TikTok’s dying days reminiscing on all the trends and dances that circulated the app and gathering as much content as they can before it’s too late.
Rest in peace, TikTok. Gone, but never forgotten.
