Alternative Social Media to Use After TikTok Ban
With the clock ticking, the fate of TikTok is barely hanging on by a thread. As of Sunday, January 19th, if the hugely popular platform isn’t bought out by an American conglomerate, it will close its doors on American soil.
Due to issues of national security, the Supreme Court social media ban means nobody new will be able to download the app and current users will not be able to upload new content. TikTok is a major source of income for many of its creators, leaving them in a bit of a bind. Where will they go to publish new content after the TikTok ban? And will all their followers transfer over with them?
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And, hopefully, their income will carry over to another platform if TikTok is banned. If you’re concerned, as a TikTok viewer, about where your favorite creators will go, here are five likely alternatives. After all, we’ll never live in a world with no social media.
YouTube
You’ll quickly see YouTube take on one of the biggest influxes of TikTok accounts. Even now, many of the YouTube shorts we watch come from the creators’ TikTok accounts. As we interchange between long-form videos and quick snippets on YouTube, we might see a lot more shorts in the coming weeks and months.
Instagram instituted Reels back in 2020. It’s a TikTok-like feed of short videos that you can get lost in for hours, much like TikTok. The trouble is, some of the most popular influencers on TikTok today feel that Instagram is something their millennial parents use. And, if it's something Mom and Dad like, then it can’t possibly be “cool,” can it? Still, it has a powerful algorithm that might quickly prove to be just as empowering as TikTok.
Snapchat
Like TikTok, Snapchat has historically been embraced by the younger, “cooler” generation. So, this platform may take on a healthy dose of accounts, as well. Known for its disappearing videos, Snapchat is so powerful, it actually influenced Instagram’s version of Stories, which disappear after 24 hours. Snapchat is fast-paced and thrilling, and may end up being another viable alternative to TikTok.
Twitch
Twitch is Amazon’s foray into the game. Although it offers easy access to a bevy of online activities, it’s most popular among gamers. Countless different games are streamed, including the ever-popular Fortnite, League of Legends, and Grand Theft Auto. Given its sort of niche popularity, it may not turn into the biggest alternative to TikTok. But, it also offers easy access to music broadcasts, creative content, and some of the Internet’s most popular streamers. So, if you have an account, you might see a spike here, as well.
RedNote
Oddly enough, there’s another Chinese app that’s already seeing an influx of new accounts. Some of the reports say TikTokers are deliberately choosing another Chinese app because they’re annoyed the U.S. may be banning it. Although it’s been popular in China and other local regions like Malaysia and Taiwan, we might see it gain some serious traction in the U.S., as well. RedNote is very similar to TikTok with its e-commerce and short-form videos that can offer influencers a huge platform.
Lemon8
A final sort of controversial alternative could be another app owned by TikTok’s parent company. It doesn’t really seem like it’s the best answer, though, does it? It, too, could end up facing the same fate as TikTok. The other issue that makes Lemon8 a potential lemon in terms of a replacement is that it tends to lean more heavily into pictures than short-form videos. If it has more of a Pinterest or Instagram feel to it, then it may not slide into TikTok’s space quite so easily.
Let’s Wait and See
Let’s wait and see how this all unfolds. First, will the ban even go through? Although it’s highly likely, stranger things have happened. And, second, where will everybody go?
YouTube is a likely alternative, as we’re already seeing people migrate their content over to the platform's shorts. And, in many ways, Instagram already has a similar function.
Stay with us as the ever-changing social media news cycle continues to report on the issue. With our finger on the pulse, we’ll keep you updated with the latest social media furor. It’s unlikely our favorite content creators will disappear completely. We’ll just have to wait and see which platform they’ll take over next.