TikTok preparing for US shutdown on Sunday

[The Buzz]

Despite a federal ban only restricting new downloads, TikTok plans to fully shut down its U.S. app on Sunday, redirecting users to an informative website and offering data downloads while parent company ByteDance fights the ban, citing First Amendment concerns.

From The Economic Times:

The outcome of the shutdown would be different from that mandated by the law. The law would mandate a ban only on new TikTok downloads on Apple or Google app stores, while existing users could continue using it for some time.

Under TikTok's plan, people attempting to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter is not public.

The company also plans to give users an option to download all their data so that they can take a record of their personal information, they said.

TikTok and its Chinese parent, ByteDance, did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Read more here:
https://tinyurl.com/mwmfjev6

[ocreditor]

It's about time!

[universal4]

It is ironic that Bytedance wants to exercise their rights to keep operating, but they care little about the privacy rights of their customers.

Since the UK banned tiktok on govt devices etc since 2023, one would assume they did this because they also felt the app threatened the security of the govt and the privacy of those working in govt. Yet they cared absolutely zero about the privacy and security of their citizens, even though it appears some of the reasons they banned it in the first place was (they claim) the app violated some of the things covered in the GDRP.

I am somewhat surprised the ban was not more widespread in the UK.

Another thing I find intriguing about this is that there has been little talk of whether the US needs some sort of GDPR. (only with a little more teeth than the current version in the UK)

I wonder if they will be able to work things out even if they do manage to get bytedance to divest much of the US operations. (as I understand it this is still sorta on the table) However, if the data is still accessible by the parent company can't see how it would change very much, just make them getting such data slightly more complicated.

Obviously some may agree or disagree with the decisions by the US or what the UK had done, but might be something to watch as this could possibly help shape some policy going forward as to how companies deal with or protect customer data.

Rick
Universal4

[PaulEchere]

Would this actually have that much of an effect on regular users, who would still wan to use it though? I mean surely one should be able to still get it using a VPN or downloading it from non-google play sources (for android devices).

[dananikolic]

Only a matter of time before EU gets on the same train

[MMM]

Would this actually have that much of an effect on regular users, who would still wan to use it though? I mean surely one should be able to still get it using a VPN or downloading it from non-google play sources (for android devices).

i doubt it will work that way.
Also, the power of system like that are the creators, however if you cannot monetize the traffic and you cannot if everyone is using VPN so company doesnt generate profit, so creators dont get paid as before and all switch to something new.
Not to mention that most people will do so before i am guessing, as not many into using VPN and finding a way to get there. something new will come in place

[NoDepositCasinos]

Would this actually have that much of an effect on regular users, who would still wan to use it though? I mean surely one should be able to still get it using a VPN or downloading it from non-google play sources (for android devices).

I think it definitely would have an impact. Even if you use a VPN or other workarounds, the real appeal of TikTok (and social media in general) is how convenient it is and how easy it is to lose track of time while scrolling. Once you add extra steps to access it, it becomes a hassle that not everyone is willing to deal with. Some might still do it occasionally, but it could reduce overall usage.

I’m curious about how this might affect different industries and whether anyone here uses TikTok consistently for their business.

[golfbettingsystem]

Interesting to see what Trump does (or doesn’t do) about this, looks like it will be his call either way.

[universal4]

Looks like Mr. Wonderful was, or may have already, tried to make another bid for it. He might have a few investors/partners throwing in on it but not completely sure and can not confirm.

For clarification in case you do not know him by that name, Mr. Wonderful = Kevin O'Leary. He is actually a Canadian business guy, but has many many strong ties in the US business world as well. You might recognize him from the Shark Tank episodes.

And as golfbettingsystem stated, Trump will have something to do with the decision, as O'Leary was supposedly visiting with him trying to see if he could help sway the deal he was proposing.

Rick
Universal4

[Cash Bonus]

There's more on this regarding the ban on TikTok. I personally don't want to see it get banned, because to me, it's like YouTube and some of the channels can be educational.

hxxps://amp.abc.net.au/article/104832904

[Sherlock]

Would this actually have that much of an effect on regular users, who would still wan to use it though? I mean surely one should be able to still get it using a VPN or downloading it from non-google play sources (for android devices).

regular users do not use VPN or download anything from websites, although it is much easier than before and the bit more savvy people are more common

it is not so convenient to use VPN on mobile phone and above all, the revenue from VPN users is way lower.. to know the real customer IP is a valuable asset

[PaulEchere]

Of course i haven't really done a ton of research on this, but i do think that a lot of businesses do use tiktok and do rely on it quite heavily in terms of getting the word out and attracting new visitors / users / etc.

I think it definitely would have an impact. Even if you use a VPN or other workarounds, the real appeal of TikTok (and social media in general) is how convenient it is and how easy it is to lose track of time while scrolling. Once you add extra steps to access it, it becomes a hassle that not everyone is willing to deal with. Some might still do it occasionally, but it could reduce overall usage.

I’m curious about how this might affect different industries and whether anyone here uses TikTok consistently for their business.

[chaumi]

By the sound of it, the ban will get overturned by Trump anyway.

Personally I've never even been on Tik Tok. My instinctive first few seconds thoughts were it can burn in hell, along with the other crap like FB and Tw*tter.

The problem is that's a flawed viewpoint, born out of a 'couldn't give a monkey's' attitude mainly based on the focus on advertising (along with some despair/sadness for the people posting pictures of their dinner out 'ooh, look at me everybody, aren't I xxxxxxxxxxxx'). Clearly, all of that is flawed/condescending/whatever you want to call it on my part. True, in part, but not on enough scale to make the attitude appropriate.

The reality is even the other 'big' two have their (valuable, social) uses (for example, I see a dog running loose/scared round the streets on my evening walk, and FB is the quickest way to contact a lot of people quickly that might know who the owner is...someone gets attacked on a walk for no reason and they can have it streaming live within seconds, maybe putting off the aggressor).

I would imagine TikTok has similar use cases, but I'm 40-50 years too old to know/find out. For the youngsters, who's to say that the entertainment value alone isn't enough for it to have value for them.

The ban is the US seems idiotic. I'd suggest there is less than zero chance of it happening here in the UK. Not because the UK is not idiotic, just it doesn't make sense and would (I would have thought) cause uproar for obvious reasons.

[TheGooner]

The ban on Tiktok is idiotic - it's an app. I've found it easy to get on with life without it.
If it's a government security threat because it's non-US owned then tell government officers not to download it.

The fact that the new US president's first act will be an executive order "saving" tiktok for 90 days (so that his billionaire mates can buy it and make money from it) is a scenario BEYOND BELIEF a decade ago.

If China really are spying on world citizens using the app - changing ownership nationality will make zero difference.