The TikTok Ban: Will We Survive?

The clock’s ticking—err…tick tocking, if I may—and TikTok is set to vanish from U.S. app stores on Sunday, January 19th. Naturally, the entire internet is freaking out. Are we really about to see the hottest social platform yeeted from our phones? Are we all moving to RedNote and learning Mandarin? Is MrBeast really going to save us and buy TikTok? Woah woah…slow down, chill, and take a couple breaths. Let’s talk about what we know and break down what’s really happening.

What We Know (for real though)

The Supreme Court woke up and chose chaos this morning by ruling to uphold the law that would ban—or force the sale of—TikTok. Senator Ed Markey tried to buy some time with a bill to delay the ban, but it hasn’t passed, and it doesn't look promising. Meanwhile, MrBeast (yes, that MrBeast) and a few other parties have expressed interest in buying TikTok, but so far, the platform isn’t biting. President-elect Trump insists he won’t let TikTok go dark, but the actual details of how he’d prevent that remain murky, to say the least.

This all adds up to one big stand-off. Will TikTok vanish on Sunday, or will it pull off some spectacular last-minute rescue? No one can say for sure.

So…What’s Actually Happening Next?

In a word: speculation. Now, we’re not flying totally blind—we’ve seen this play out before in India back in 2020, when 200 million TikTok users suddenly got the boot. According to our Head of Media, Sean Hozumi—who spoke with our TikTok rep—it was more of a slow fade-out than an abrupt shutdown. We could see a similar scenario here in the States. Apple, Google, and Android app stores will have to yeet TikTok from their shelves, so no new downloads or updates. If you already have the app, you might still get to scroll through it for a while, but once the US-based Oracle servers go dark (if they do), would a foreign-run TikTok even be accessible? Or is that the frfr end? Bottom line: creators and advertisers need a contingency plan, because wherever this ride takes us, it’s time to rethink how and where you invest your content and marketing dollars.

Where Will the #TikTokRefugees Migrate?

As the ban threat looms larger, we’re knee-deep in market research to uncover the big question on everyone’s mind: Where will TikTok users actually go if—or when—this thing goes down? I can’t spill all the tea just yet (we'll release the findings next week 👀‼️😏), but trust me, the early results are full of surprises.

For now, let’s talk RedNote. Let me be clear: there’s no real, lasting future for U.S. creators and advertisers on RedNote. On the surface, hopping to a Chinese app might feel like a rebellious move—some people want to “stick it to the man.” But RedNote is shrouded in government censorship, entirely in Mandarin (unless you have ADHD and are already halfway through your Duolingo lessons, that’s a huge hurdle), and if it ever gained serious traction, it would certainly face the same regulatory smackdown TikTok is dealing with now. So if FOMO is driving you to check it out, fine—but don’t set up camp there. Your time (and marketing dollars) will be better spent elsewhere.

TikTok = Life (for some)

For millions of users, creators, and advertisers, TikTok has become more than just an app—it’s a vital, community-driven ecosystem. Our preliminary findings confirm that its value stretches far beyond entertaining dance videos and viral trends. TikTok has evolved into a space where people can learn new skills, stay informed about current events, and engage in real-time discourse about what’s happening in the world. This unique blend of entertainment, education, and community is part of what makes TikTok so powerful. And if the ban takes hold, there’s no obvious replacement waiting in the wings. Whichever platform rises to meet that demand for engaging, informative content will claim a massive opportunity—and possibly define the next era of social media.

The Final Tea

Is TikTok toast? Maybe. Will we lose our daily fix of sea-shanty vibes and comedic duets? Possibly. But the social media universe doesn’t stop spinning just because one app evaporates—even a giant like TikTok. The world’s changing, but you—and your scrolling thumb—will adapt. We always do.