TikTok was completely banned on January 19th; how did Americans react?

Disappointment, confusion, and disbelief—these are the emotions felt by TikTok users in the US upon hearing the news that the app platform will cease operations entirely on January 19th.

Giovanna Gonzalez of Chicago protests outside the Capitol after a TikTok content creator press conference in Washington in March 2024. (Source: Reuters)

On January 15, ByteDance announced it would completely cease operations in the US on January 19, when the federal ban takes effect.

Previously, TikTok users with large followings and careers tied to the app had hoped for months that the platform would avoid the order. ByteDance's announcement sparked outrage among American users, just days before the ban was due to take effect.

Joonsuk Shin, a research management director and content creator in New York, expressed: "I am extremely saddened and disheartened by TikTok's 'surrender'."

Some users are calling for a boycott of other social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram (owned by MetaPlatforms), and Elon Musk's X, arguing that these apps would poach customers who previously used TikTok for advertising.

"We also need to delete our Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts on the same day TikTok shuts down," one user said.

The order comes amid concerns among US lawmakers that TikTok poses national security risks, as China could force users to share data. The app denies ever doing so and will never do so.

Before deciding to cease operations, TikTok and its parent company sought to delay the enforcement of the law. The company argued that the executive order violated the anti -government provision restricting freedom of speech in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

If the US Supreme Court does not overturn the ban, those attempting to open TikTok on January 19th will see a message appear, redirecting them to a website stating that the app has ceased operation.

Amber Goode, a crime content creator in Colorado Springs, expressed her frustration while awaiting the Supreme Court's final decision on her favorite app: "Why is the Court playing games with us? Clearly, the government is avoiding answering."

On January 15, the Washington Post reported that President-elect Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order to "Save TikTok." However, it remains uncertain whether this order would override the ban.

This week, TikTok users have started sending farewell messages and sharing information so their followers can find them. Many other users have unexpectedly switched to other Chinese social media platforms, such as RedNote, to register accounts using translation software to translate into Mandarin.

The day before, TikTok users were still hoping the app would be granted an extension of 270 days starting from January 19th. Some jokingly expressed their amusement, using newly learned Chinese phrases from RedNote: "How can all American users learn Chinese in 24 hours?"

Others are racing against time to save the content they've previously posted on TikTok.

"My daughter passed away in 2023. I'm saving all of her videos on my phone. I can't lose them," one user commented.

Other TikTok users thanked ByteDance for “not giving in to the bully,” for not waiting for a court ruling. However, others criticized the app for its decision to cease operations.

"It's sad because I thought we (TikTok users and the app) were progressing," expressed Ishpal Sidhu, a former lawyer and full-time content creator.

Sidhu has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok. She will lose all of them and her income on Sunday. The content creator expressed her concern, wondering if the social media platform will pay for the content she posts in January 2025.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tiktok-bi-cam-hoan-toan-ke-tu-191-nguoi-dan-my-phan-ung-the-nao-301210.html