Tick tock for TikTok
So here we are: the long saga of TikTok bans is finally entering what could be its finish zone in just a few hours. America’s 170 million users will be wondering what happens next and what they can expect when they wake up Sunday morning.
While we originally expected the app to continue working for existing users after the ban took effect, that no longer appears to be the case. TikTok has essentially warned that it will “go dark” in the United States, given that service providers that support the platform will not be able to continue to do so legally.
The inside track on TikTok appears to be that you’ll be taken to a website with a message and an explanation of the platform, and perhaps an option to download your data. Although doing this at once for all 100+ million users could expand the ecosystem, so be prepared for some chaos and delays. There is no confirmation on the calendar. It could be midnight or shortly after. It’s still possible that a last-minute deal could keep it running until the administration changes next week.
Many users wonder if a VPN will solve the problem – as has been the case with statewide porn site shutdowns in the US, where users are turning to VPNs to pretend they are elsewhere. This seems unlikely to work here, given that the platform itself goes dark instead of being blocked. But we will know more on Sunday.
It is essential that you do two things before the ban takes effect. First make sure your account has been secured, which will help you restore it if it comes back. You can find details about this procedure here. And second, don’t fall for lures that come to you via email, message, or social media post, promising to restore your account or provide a workaround. These will be dangerous scams.
Most expect some form of fudge, if not tomorrow, then at least early next week, with the new Trump administration. give TikTok a pass for 60-90 daysIt is time for the situation to be resolved. This can still mean 24 to 72 hours of darkness, though, so just make sure you’re prepared. With unfortunate timing, TikTok is now under fire in Europe, with a new privacy lawsuit alleging it illegally sends data to China. TikTok tells me that it categorically denies this claim and that I don’t expect it to make a difference in the United States.
Your app won’t disappear from your phone tomorrow and you don’t need to delete it. But it won’t work if the platform shuts down until it is restored and it won’t be available in any of the app stores. The risk of an app without access to security updates running on 170 million phones appears to have disappeared with the latest turn of events, which is a good thing, but for millions of users, this new “bleak” reality » could be worse.
Above all, don’t do anything rash. And cross your fingers.
