Are you keeping up with the pending TikTok shutdown?
News of the ban first came in March 2024, when U.S. President Joe Biden told TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok to a buyer in the United States or face a ban in the United States. TikTok was considered a possible threat to national security.
The latest move is that if ByteDance does not sell the app by Sunday, Jan. 19, it will be illegal for distribution through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Internet service providers will have to make the app unavailable to U.S. internet browsers.
On Jan. 10, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the possible shutdown, and according to experts, the court will most likely decide to allow the ban to come into effect.
In the meantime, TikTok influencers who love the platform are trying to figure out if the ban is really going to happen and, if it does, where they should go next. So far, another Chinese app, RedNote, is getting attention as a possible alternative.
Here are the answers to the questions being asked.
Why is TikTok getting banned?
The U.S. Government is concerned that the Chinese app, owned by the Chinese app company ByteDance, threatens national security. The popular media platform, which gained many followers during the pandemic, is used by 170 million Americans.
The social media giant has requested that the Supreme Court pause the ban during the legal process. While the justices heard arguments last week, a decision has yet to be announced.
What to know about Red Note app?
Social media followers are starting to check out Red Note, one of China’s more popular social media platforms. It was started in 2013 and is valued at more than $17 billion, according to the Financial Times.
The Chinese name is Xiaohongshu, which means ‘little red book’ in English. The layout seems similar to Pinterest, the popular pinboard app, and is sometimes compared to Instagram.
Among all free iPhone apps, RedNote is currently the top social networking app on the Apple app store rankings.
Young people who have used it as an alternative to TikTok are finding humor in being called “TikTok refugees” by Chinese influencers who welcome them to the platform.
Source: USAToday
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María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.
