Ever since its rise to popularity back in 2020, TikTok has been America’s favorite social media platform, garnering an unbelievable 1.6 billion monthly users, a solid 400 million or so of whom reside in the US. So, when rumors started swirling about a TikTok ban in January 2025 you can only imagine the panic that surfaced amongst dedicated users and creators alike. 

In the past few months, more information has come out on the proposed ban, and Americans are facing an imminent TikTok blackout with the deadline for a sale or ban of the popular video-sharing platform set for January 19. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope for anyone opposing the ban, as the Supreme Court heard arguments for two-and-a-half hours on Friday over whether can be banned in the United States

Keep reading for the latest updates on the TikTok ban 2025, including an overview of the implications for American TikTokers, and our top tips for creators looking to secure their TikTok accounts amidst the changing legislation. One thing is certain – it's a wake-up call for creators to be the owners of their audience and a reminder to diversify and invest in assets they truly control, ensuring they can continue to connect with their audience and secure their income stream regardless of the outcome.

Is TikTok getting banned in 2025? 

Let’s start with the question on every social media manager’s lips right now: is TikTok actually going to be banned in 2025? 

The short answer is that we’re still not 100% sure, but it’s quite likely that TikTok will be banned in the US in 2025 if things go to plan. Currently, there’s legislation in the Supreme Court that, if passed, will cement the ban and establish TikTok’s future in the country if it is not sold to a US-based company. 

Here’s a quick timeline of the ban and what we know so far: 

• October 2019: The first warning signs for TikTok’s future in the US are raised by politicians concerned about its acquisition of the app Musical.ly and more generally, by the data security issues imposed by Chinese-owned apps. 

• December 2019: TikTok is banned on military and government phones in the US.

• August 2020: Trump issues an executive order to ByteDance, demanding it remove itself from TikTok’s ownership and operations to avoid a ban in America. This is the real crux of the current TikTok issue – US lawmakers and cyber security experts are concerned about the potential data mishandling and security issues that could continue to arise from the app being owned by a Chinese company. China and the US have notoriously been at one another’s throats for decades, and their relationship is set to become even more rocky with the reintroduction of Trump as president. 

• February 2021: After he’s sworn in as Trump’s replacement at the end of the former president’s run, Joe Biden halts any further action on the legal cases Trump had initiated around TikTok’s future in the US. 

• March 2024: After a long silence on the issue, a ‘ban-or-sell’ bill that will force TikTok to be sold to a US-based company is reintroduced and passed by the House of Representatives. 

• April 2024: US President Joe Biden signs a second bill requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its shares in the app in nine months to avoid a total ban in the US.

• Late April 2024: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew retaliates, saying they will not be selling the platform to a US-based company and suggesting they’ll take legal action against what they consider to be a potential first amendment rights violation. 

• May 2024: TikTok and ByteDance sue the US federal government in opposition to the proposed law, claiming it is unconstitutional.  

• September 2024: TikTok challenges the ban in a US federal appeals court, citing it violates free speech, a constitutional right in the country. 

• December 2024: TikTok asks for a last-minute pause to the ban, which now looms ahead on January 19, 2025. 

TikTok Ban 2025: The latest on the Supreme Court appeal 

As of mid-December 2024, it was all systems go for a nationwide TikTok ban that would be enacted in America on January 19. 

However, on Friday, December 27, President-elect Donald Trump asked for a pause on this legislation. This seems to be due to the change in government, with his lawyer D. John Sauer stating that the pause would “[permit] President Trump’s incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case.”

If Trump’s pause request is granted, the Supreme Court will have a little more time to weigh up the potential implications of the ban. However, if it is not granted, things will go ahead as proposed. This would mean that TikTok would be removed from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as of Sunday, January 19. 

What the TikTok ban means for your account

Now that you’re up to speed on the status of the 2025 TikTok ban in the US, let’s tackle some of the implications it’ll have for your account, whether you’re a content creator, personal brand, or business with a presence on the app. 

If you’re not located in the US, it’s likely you won’t see many impacts, if any at all. However, if you do reside in America, things are about to change significantly: 

• TikTok will no longer be downloadable: The good news for creators is that it’s unlikely TikTok will be completely wiped from devices on January 19 – instead, it will just be unavailable to download. Eventually, this will render it unusable in the US (when the latest downloadable version of the app becomes unsupported or unstable); however it does give creators some time to build their followings elsewhere and preserve their content. 

• You may eventually lose access to your content: If you live in the US, you might lose access to your previously published TikTok videos and carousels as time goes on. This is a huge reason to download your content now, and keep your video files somewhere safe and secure so they can be repurposed for other channels like Instagram! 

• You could experience a loss of income: This is an incredibly important implication to be aware of, especially if you’re a personal brand or creator who makes a living from filming TikTok videos in the US. To avoid your income stream being devastatingly impacted, think about diversifying your content now and building up a presence on other apps to make the loss of TikTok less of a shock to the system. 

• You’ll see a reduction in engagement: US users make up a massive proportion of active monthly users on TikTok, so if you do continue to use the app (whether in the US or another country), it’s likely you’ll see a dip in engagement and followers as users begin to drop off.

• Users will begin to move elsewhere: Social media is cyclical, so we’d be remiss not to mention that TikTok’s demise in the US could make way for a phoenix-like rise of another social media platform, whether that’s a stalwart like Instagram, or something new and innovative. Amidst the ban, be sure to keep your eye on the popularity of other platforms and be ready to redirect your efforts if you notice a seismic shift. 

How to secure your TikTok account (before it’s too late)

Before the TikTok ban potentially hits on January 19, there are a few things all social media users in the US should do to secure their accounts. Here’s what we recommend looking into: 

• Adding two-factor authentication (2FA): Anything you can do to secure your TikTok account ahead of the ban is a smart move, starting with enabling two-factor authentication on your devices. Set this up by visiting your TikTok settings and selecting another app (preferably an authenticator app like Microsoft or Google Authenticator) to verify your TikTok login. 

• Disabling location services: While your device will still infer an approximate location, it’s possible to turn location services off to make access to your personal data tougher, should you choose to continue using TikTok in the US while it’s still available. You can do this by visiting the app’s settings in the settings section of your iPhone or Android phone. Also consider turning off ‘allow tracking’ so that TikTok cannot track your activity across other apps.

• Building a presence on other channels: If the US government gets their way, TikTok will be completely phased out in the country sooner rather than later – so it would be unrealistic not to prepare for a future without TikTok. Focus more on creating content for other channels, especially Instagram, which is likely to be a first point of call for dedicated TikTok users, and any new channels that could grow in popularity like BlueSky and Lemon8. Check out more alternatives here.

• Downloading the latest version of TikTok: If you’re currently running an old version of TikTok on your phone, it’s highly likely you’ll ‘age out’ of being able to use the app quicker than others. So, before January 19, head to the App Store or Play Store and save down the most recent version of the app to ensure the most longevity you can amidst the ban. 

The reality of the situation is this: the US could be facing a TikTok ban tomorrow, but with the right knowledge and an agile social media strategy, it’s completely possible to mitigate the fallout for your brand or business. Time will only tell what happens to TikTok in the US, but social media is an ever-evolving beast, and we’re certain that this shift in the landscape will be one of many to come in the near future. 

‍Ready to own your audience?

A TikTok ban isn’t just the loss of a platform–it’s a wake- up call to diversify your channels, safeguard your income streams and own your audience. Explore these ownership features on Linktree and take control today.