TikTok ban in US triggers massive digital migration
US TikTokers and users have now become unable to access the popular Chinese-owned social media platform because of a federal ban on the app used to make their short videos pertaining to seaside visits, workout, education, risky places, attractive landscapes, and do business or supplement their income.
Once users attempt to access TikTok in the US, a message appears, "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office." The US TikTokers have already made up their mind to switch over to other Chinese social media platforms such as RedNote (known in China as Xiaohongshu), Lemon8, Capcut and the like. The massive digital migration was witnessed during last week as they read between the lines that TikTok might be banned.
The Guardian reported that the app, TikTok, stopped working in the US late on Saturday, shortly before a federal ban was due to take effect.
The app is no longer available on Apple's iOS App Store or Google's Play Store. The US Congress passed a law in April last year mandating that parent company ByteDance either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or face a total shutdown. It chose the latter.
TikTok said that divestment "is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally". The company held that line until the very end. The US Supreme Court upheld on Friday a law banning TikTok in the United States on national security grounds if its Chinese parent company ByteDance did not sell the short-video app by Sunday, as judges in a 9-0 decision declined to rescue a platform used by about half of the Americans, Reuters reported.
There is no doubt that for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement and source of community. Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who opposed a TikTok ban and has some soft corner about the app which helped him with young voters in the 2024 election, succeeds Biden on Monday.
"The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it," Trump said in a social media post. "My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!" Trump said. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed issues including TikTok in a phone call on Friday. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend Trump's inauguration on Monday, seated among other high-profile invitees. According to TikTok, the ban could impede its user base, advertisers, content creators and employee talent. The app has 7,000 US employees. Meanwhile, western media, which favour policies of US lawmakers, has also reported many a time that the social media platforms owned by US tycoons can be accessed by the US CIA.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently acknowledged that US authorities, including the CIA, can access WhatsApp messages by remotely logging into user devices, effectively bypassing the platform's end-to-end encryption. Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said the geopolitical context cannot be ignored. The US sees TikTok not only as a potential security risk but also as a symbol of China's growing technological influence.
Some US politicians think TikTok might share user data with the Chinese government or be influenced by it. The US has already limited Chinese tech companies like Huawei and ZTE. Targeting TikTok could be another way of reducing China's influence in American markets. For the US, like other countries, national security is paramount and this act is to ensure US national security in the cyber domain.
A ban would likely serve as a political message: the US is willing to take bold steps to protect its data and digital sovereignty. However, such a move risks alienating younger voters who see TikTok as a cultural and creative outlet. The political cost might outweigh the security benefits, especially in a nation that values freedom of choice.
The US Supreme Court would've found a way around US constitutional provisions. The US prides itself on being a global champion of free speech and an open internet. Banning TikTok could undermine that stance, making the US appear hypocritical when criticising other nations for similar actions. While national security is a legitimate concern, banning a platform outright may not align with the values enshrined in the constitution. A more balanced approach, like stricter regulations or transparency requirements, could address security concerns without compromising fundamental freedoms. However, this is not for the first time that the US has banned Chinese technology companies.
Americans are resilient and adaptable when it comes to technology. While a TikTok ban would cause initial disruption, users and creators would likely migrate to platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or emerging platforms such as RedNote. However, the loss of TikTok's unique algorithm and global community would be felt, especially by creators and businesses reliant on its ecosystem. The migration could foster innovation and competition, but it might also fracture online communities, leading to a loss of the vibrant culture TikTok has fostered.
In short, if TikTok disappears, people will just use other social media to keep sharing and watching similar content. While there are legitimate concerns about data privacy and national security, a ban might not be the most effective solution. It risks eroding constitutional values, alienating young users, and creating cultural disruption.
A better approach might involve working with TikTok to address these concerns transparently, fostering both security and freedom. In 2021, TikTok, a short-video app launched TikTok Shop, which lets users buy products while scrolling. America is now the largest market for TikTok Shop, while TikTok is also expanding everywhere in the West.
The US think tanks intend to contain the rising growth of China in any field in terms of trade, business and technology, but cheaper technology of China has prevailed all over the world and astonished all rivals with its quick development.
The writer is a staff correspondent