On Sunday, the social media app TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, faces a potential ban unless it is sold to a U.S. investor or the U.S. Supreme Court steps in. This ban stems from a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, marking the first attempt by the United States to restrict access to an app with approximately 170 million American users.
The law targets various U.S.-based partners facilitating TikTok access, making typical workarounds like using a virtual private network or changing phone settings challenging, as revealed by experts. Users may be left with a limited web version of the service, if accessible at all, lacking the app's full features.
While users won't be required to delete the app, TikTok plans to discontinue its service, allowing users to download their data. App stores, such as Apple and Google, will no longer provide TikTok to U.S. users, inhibiting bug fixes and content delivery. Oracle, responsible for hosting TikTok data in the U.S., may need to halt operations.
The absence of essential service providers could also impact international TikTok users, although efforts are underway to address these concerns. Utilizing a virtual private network (VPN) may offer a temporary solution, but TikTok can track users through geolocation data, limiting effectiveness.
Trying to access a browser-based TikTok version via VPN may lack features and personalization. Altering an iPhone's country settings is cumbersome due to subscription changes and payment methods, possibly requiring separate phones for specific apps, prompting jests about influencers carrying two devices.
Additionally, the law restricts app distribution to U.S. users despite device settings, necessitating leaving the U.S. for TikTok downloads, illustrating the complex challenges faced by users seeking retention.