Here’s TikTok’s backup plan as ban looms

Published: January 10, 2025

Here’s TikTok’s backup plan as ban looms

By a Movieguide® contributor

TikTok parent company ByteDance began pushing users to another of its social media sites in the run-up to the TikTok ban, with little hope of diversion.

Lemon8, the name of its other social media platform, allows users to post short video clips as well as photo collections similar to those on Instagram. Additionally, users can connect their Lemon8 account to their TikTok account, allowing them to transfer their usernames and followers, allowing them to migrate platforms without rebuilding an audience.

“TikTok actually has another backup app. It’s called Lemon8″, a TikTok influencer said in a sponsored article with ByteDance. “It automatically logs you in with your TikTok so you can always keep the same TikTok name and things like that. And it’s supposed to transfer your followers… Once you add Lemon8, it automatically appears on your TikTok bio, so people can just click on it.

After several congressional hearings in the summer of 2023, Congress voted to ban the app with an overwhelming majority in spring 2024. The law gave ByteDance until January 19, 2025 to divest its ownership of TikTok or be banned in the United States.

Although ByteDance insisted that it would not sell TikTok, it was also positive that the ban would not happen, calling it a violation of its First Amendment rights that the courts will overturn. However, with less than two weeks to go before the ban comes into force, it remains in effect.

LEARN MORE: SUPREME COURT AGREES TO HEAR APPEAL ON TIKTOK BANNING LAW

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court will definitively rule on the legality of the ban before the 19th. Additionally, President-elect Donald Trump shared his sympathy for TikTok, saying he would reconsider the ban once he is in office to modify it. Trump will take office on January 20, leaving at least a one-day window in which the app will be banned unless the Supreme Court rules in favor of ByteDance.

The ban was implemented for the sake of national security, as numerous high-ranking FBI and military officials explained how China could use the app to influence the American public and gather data on its 170 million users based in the United States. While this is an extremely concerning topic, a ban will also impact America’s small businesses.

“It is so important to my customer base and how I reach customers that if I lose TikTok, I will lose a large part of my business or I will lose my ability to expand further,” said Desiree Hill, owner of Crown’s Corner Mechanic who used TikTok to attract customers.

Thanks to creators and small businesses using the app for advertising, TikTok adds about $1.3 billion to the U.S. economy each year.

LEARN MORE: HOW WILL THE TIKTOK BAN IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES

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