TikTok users in the US panic and despair as Bytedance raises the 'white flag'

TikTok creators and users with large followings have been hoping for months that the app would find a way to stave off a ban in the U.S. But as January 19 looms, frustration and panic are starting to spread.

“The fact that TikTok has given up is really disappointing and heartbreaking,” said Joonsuk Shin, 28, a research director and content creator living in New York.

Some users have called for actions in response, including boycotts of platforms like Instagram and Facebook (owned by Meta Platforms) as well as X (owned by Elon Musk), apps that would likely attract advertisers typically associated with TikTok.

“Everyone should delete their Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts that very day,” one user strongly suggested.

ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has been given until January 19 to sell its US assets or face an outright ban.

This stems from concerns from US lawmakers that the app could pose a national security threat, as the Chinese government could demand TikTok share US users' data.

However, TikTok has repeatedly affirmed that it has never and will never share user data with the Chinese government.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have tried to delay the ban, arguing that it violates rights protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech from government interference.

If the US Supreme Court does not intervene to block the ban, anyone trying to access TikTok on January 19 will only see a message directing them to a website with details about the app's shutdown.

Amber Goode, 28, a true crime content creator in Colorado Springs, Colorado, expressed her frustration at having to wait for the Supreme Court to decide the fate of her favorite app.

“Why are they playing us like this?” Goode fumed. “I feel like the government is deliberately avoiding giving us answers that they already have.”

The Washington Post reported on January 15 that President-elect Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order in hopes of “rescuing TikTok.” However, the likelihood of such an order helping the app avoid a ban remains unclear.

Meanwhile, many users began to leave the platform, sharing information on other social media platforms where their followers could find them. Some turned to China-based apps like RedNote, even using translation services to understand the sign-up instructions in Mandarin.

In addition, some users are rushing to back up their valuable content.

“My daughter passed away in 2023. I saved all her videos on my phone. I can’t lose them,” one user shared emotionally.

The community was also divided in its response to ByteDance’s handling of the situation. Some thanked the company for “not bowing to pressure” by refusing to wait for a verdict, while others criticized it for doing so.

“I really thought there was hope, but now it’s just so sad,” said Ishpal Sidhu, 32, a former lawyer and full-time content creator. With nearly 400,000 followers and a TikTok-based income stream, she worries about whether she’ll still get paid for her content in January.