TikTok‘s future in the United States is on the line, with a federal law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either sell the app to an American firm or shut it down by January 19. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the law’s constitutionality this Friday, a decision that will significantly impact the 170 million Americans who use the app. TikTok has become a platform for users to gain popularity and secure livelihoods, and many are expressing their disappointment over the potential ban.

India was one of the first countries to ban TikTok in 2020, amid deteriorating relations with China following a deadly military clash in the Galwan Valley. India’s Ministry of Information and Technology cited concerns over privacy and national security, stating that some apps, including TikTok, were surreptitiously transmitting user data to servers outside the country. The Indian government’s move led to TikTok’s removal from app stores and telecom providers blocking access to the platform.

During his presidency, Donald Trump cited India’s TikTok ban as justification for a similar action in the U.S. He attempted to restrict American transactions with ByteDance, although legal challenges ultimately led to the termination of the executive order in 2021. In 2023, the Biden administration instructed federal agencies to remove the app from government devices, and other nations, including the UK, Canada, and the EU, imposed similar restrictions.

In 2024, the U.S. Senate pushed for a permanent ban, compelling ByteDance to divest from TikTok. However, ByteDance has yet to sell its stake, and Trump’s recent change of heart — he now supports keeping TikTok in the U.S. — adds further complexity to the situation. While TikTok’s ban appears likely, any attempt by the incoming Trump administration to reverse it through an executive order may face legal challenges.

Meanwhile, the global popularity of TikTok alternatives is rising. In India, platforms like Moj, Chingari, Josh, and MX Taka Tak emerged after TikTok’s ban, and their user base has continued to grow. In the U.S., TikTok creators are increasingly turning to Instagram and alternative apps like Lemon8 and Xiaohongshu (Red Note) as potential substitutes.