What Biden’s TikTok ban means for app users and influencers: A breakdown

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President Joe Biden has just signed the so-called TikTok ban into law, meaning that the popular social media app’s parent company must now sell the app or face a ban across the US.

The controversial ban of the app was passed by Congress this week, sending the measure to Mr. Biden’s desk, who signed the legislation into law on Wednesday.

Despite fears that the Chinese-owned app will suddenly vanish from users’ phones, that is far from the reality of what will likely happen.

India’s ban of the app four years ago could serve as a blueprint for what will now happen in the US.

At the earliest, it would probably take a year before TikTok would be banned. Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has nine months to sell the social media app, tacking on an additional three more if a sale is underway.

But if this doesn’t happen, TikTok will be banned from US app stores. Court challenges could cause a stray from the original timeline, adding more time before the app is banned.

The app enjoys 170 million American users. Despite fears that the app will suddenly disappear from users’ phones if the ban takes effect, this isn’t the case.

In reality, the app would be no longer accessible in the app stores in the US, meaning it would become more difficult to download the app or receive updates.

TikTok users could probably circumvent the app’s removal from US app stores and access the app through other means, like by using a virtual private network (VPN) or using a foreign SIM card.

Creators and small business owners have warned that a ban of the app could impact their livelihoods. Over seven million US businesses sell products on the platform.

It’s unclear if TikTok influencers will be able to entirely pivot their content — and their newfound earnings — to a different social media platform.