The future of TikTok with American audiences is still questioned, and no one knows clearly what will happen next year, so the potential consequences in the social media market may upset individual users and businesses, which is a possible scenario according to circulating predictions.
Besides, there are many technological impacts that this ban can cause and some key developments that might occur. In this blog, we will look into four key developments to watch for if TikTok gets banned in the US.
Proxy Servers May Help With Accessing The Platform
A complete TikTok ban doesn’t mean that all users will lose access. Today, US proxy servers are so abundant that they have a strong presence in the market. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of thousands of proxies available in the States only. However, TikTok’s case can be a little different. If usually people around the world try to access US content on Netflix, Disney Plus, and so on, in this scenario, the US people might need to find reliable proxy service providers in locations outside of the US where TikTok is available. And this is not a difficult thing to look for since there are reliable proxies available around the globe.
Other than the fact that these proxy servers may become a doorway to TikTok, they also offer security and other benefits. They can shield the user’s IP address and secure their connection – which means that users can browse while maintaining their anonymity.
App Store Restrictions And How They Could Change Access
One of the most likely effects of TikTok’s ban would likely be the restrictions on app stores like Apple’s app store and Google’s Play Store. Both of these platforms have thousands of apps that offer digital access to everyone, and both of them still comply with government regulations in case of the legality of apps. They have restricted access to specific apps in specific regions based on the laws passed in that region by monitoring the user’s location and payment methods.
If TikTok gets banned in the US, these app stores could limit downloads and updates by tracking their payment information. However, there are doubts about whether users who already have the app on their phones will be affected. They might still be able to use the app but they won’t receive new updates or maintenance that might make the app incompatible with new OS versions.
When it comes to Android users, they could still access the app by sideloading it from unknown sources, but that itself comes with potential risks. Even with other options, the app restrictions can still play a big role if TikTok gets banned.
A Shift In Social Media Usage Among Content Creators
Let’s look into the biggest impact the ban has on – content creators. Many content creators, influencers, and businesses have marketed their presence and established their brands on the platform, and an immediate ban can cause a significant shift in social media usage among these creators. They would explore other social media platforms that still offer short-form videos, like YouTube or Instagram – recently AI-empowered social media platform.
YouTube and Instagram are already positioned to attract users with their platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts that offer the same experience as TikTok. There are also alternative channels like Snapchat Spotlight and Triller that offer the same short-form video platforms for creators. Some creators have also diversified their platform presence at the start and have prepared themselves in case of a disruption in one platform. This means even with a ban on TikTok in the US, the content creators would be disappointed at first but would still survive with their diverse presence on other platforms.
The Potential For VPNs And Other Privacy Tools
Apart from proxy servers, VPNs and other privacy tools like P2P browsers can help with bypassing regional restrictions. VPNs have already been in popularity with privacy-conscious individuals who want to access a wide range of content across regions. With the advantages of encryption and data privacy, it’s evident that the number of users using VPN has risen, and if a ban on TikTok comes into effect, it would still allow users to access the platform to bypass the ban.
A TikTok ban in the US would change the user behavior and strategies of content creators, but with the presence of privacy tools like proxy servers and VPNs, users might still bypass the ban to access content from other regions within the platform itself.
