TikTok went dark in the U.S. on Jan.18 and left millions of users scrambling for alternatives.
According to AP, the platform was removed from app stores and became inaccessible Sunday following a Supreme Court ruling.
ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, failed to meet the law’s requirement to divest its U.S. operations, which prompted the enforcement of a nationwide ban.
Viral trends, such as the “chopped chin” meme and the animated “mice band,” have become synonymous with the app.
Richland campus incoming freshman Sarah Ortega said losing TikTok would affect more than just entertainment.
“I use it to post my art and connect with other people,” Ortega said. “It’s honestly really hard to imagine another platform working the same way.”
TikTok remained offline for more than 12 hours before President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday Jan. 21, temporarily pausing the ban for 75 days to allow ByteDance more time to negotiate a sale.
The order restored access for existing users, but the app remains unavailable for new downloads in Apple and Google’s app stores.
In anticipation of a prolonged shutdown, many users are turning to other platforms. RedNote, the Chinese app Xiaohongshu, has gained significant traffic and it became the most downloaded free app in Apple’s U.S. App Store last week. Other platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Snapchat also stand to benefit.
Richland sophomore Nara Pesmaret, a frequent TikTok user, said no alternative feels the same. “I’ve tried Instagram and YouTube, but they’re just not the same,” Pesmaret said. “TikTok’s For You page is so different and is actually entertaining, so losing it would be a huge loss.”
ByteDance has yet to announce a potential buyer. The platform’s future remains uncertain.
