# What Happens If TikTok Actually Gets Banned?

- Link: https://chatterblast.com/blog/what-happens-if-tiktok-actually-gets-banned/
- Published: 2020-08-12T14:24:30-04:00
- Author: chatterblastteam

Barring any major changes to the app or it’s ownership, on September 15, **TikTok**
will be banned from the United States due to an [executive order issued by the president last Thursday](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-executive-order-tiktok/index.html).
This order is a result of the app’s ability to collect valuable data from its users
such as location, browser history, and search history. 

According to[ this article from CNN: ](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-executive-order-tiktok/index.html)

> _TikTok “automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users,” such
> as location data and browsing and search histories, which “threatens to allow 
> the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information—
> potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors,
> build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.”_

The app created by the Chinese-owned tech company [ByteDance](https://www.bytedance.com/en/)
currently has over [2 billion downloads](https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics),
800 million active users, and spreads across 155 different countries.

Upon hearing the news of the executive order, TikTok appeared to be caught off guard
and offended in a [statement](https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/tiktok-responds)
they released the following day: 

> _We are shocked by the recent Executive Order, which was issued without any due
> process. For nearly a year, we have sought to engage with the US government in
> good faith to provide a constructive solution to the concerns that have been expressed.
> What we encountered instead was that the Administration paid no attention to facts,
> dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes,
> and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses._

While TikTok may have been shocked by this executive order, nationwide bans of their
app are becoming somewhat of a trend. Countries such as Japan, Australia, India,
Indonesia, and Pakistan have either placed bans or are considering a ban of the 
app. Even Hong Kong [“passed a sweeping security law earlier this year that caused TikTok to discontinue operating there.”](https://www.axios.com/tiktok-bans-worldwide-china-6e77a3a8-f4c7-4600-94bf-df89af0a8e5f.html)

So…maybe this is something we should be taking seriously.

Whether you believe TikTok is a security threat or not, you can’t deny the impact
of the social media platform and the hole it will create if the ban goes into effect.
TikTok’s easy-to-use interface and algorithm-inspired For You Page (FYP) keeps users
on the app for _long_ periods of time, which is perfectly tailored for a society
that has an ever-diminishing attention span. 

But to me, and anyone else who works in marketing, the real value in the app is 
that it has the attention of the ever-so-coveted Gen Z. With the majority of users
[(41%) falling within the ages of 16-24](https://www.oberlo.com/blog/tiktok-statistics),
we have seen advertisers and influencers FLOOD the platform, all bidding for the
youth’s attention: 

[[

##### _Screenshots via TikTok_

As someone who loves a good ad, I’ll be upset to see this platform go. The opportunity
it provides brands for storytelling, creative trends, and “thumb-stopping” content
is unlike anything we are seeing on other platforms right now, which leads me to
the big question: Where do we go from here?

From what i’ve read, there are three probable outcomes as a result of this executive
order: 

## **Outcome 1: A buyout**

**Microsoft** has been linked to a possible purchase of the app’s operations in 
the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This does not come without
a hefty price tag, as Microsoft would have to pay some portion of the [$50 billion at which the app’s value](https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/03/tech/microsoft-tiktok-acquisition/index.html)
has been estimated. Keep in mind that Microsoft is no stranger to big investments
towards social platforms—in 2016 the company [acquired **LinkedIn** for $26 billion](https://news.microsoft.com/2016/06/13/microsoft-to-acquire-linkedin/).

## **Outcome 2: The Zuckerberg effect**

We’ve seen this before: A tech company or social platform comes up with a great 
idea, then months (or even weeks) later, Facebook [launches a similar feature](https://chatterblast.com/will-facebooks-latest-product-rival-zoom/)
that mimics the idea. This effect is already in the works, as last week **Instagram**
launched [Reels](https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instagram-reels-announcement/),
a feature almost identical to TikTok. We see you, Mark.

## **Outcome 3: A new platform**

The last probable outcome is that another (American-owned) platform emerges that
contains a similar feel to TikTok and is able to grab the attention of Gen z, brands,
and influencers. I believe that this is the _least_ likely outcome, however…I know
of an app…one that has been waiting in the winds to remerge…one that some call the
inspiration for TikTok…that’s right…[**Vine**](https://chatterblast.com/rest-in-peace-vine-and-now-our-favorite-vines/).

Where are the creators of Vine in all of this? If there was ever a time for them
to make a comeback, now would be their best shot.

If this ban really goes through, I’ll be sad to see TikTok go. I love exploring 
the app, and I hate that politics have to get in the way of content creators making
awesome stuff for their audiences. However, I understand that we live in a world
where personal data is the new gold rush, and as our lives continue to become less
private, protecting personal data should be something we all think about. 

Until then, I have not deleted the app yet. Have you?