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TikTok Set to Shut Down in the US on Sunday as Ban Looms, Fans Flock to RedNote

TikTok is reportedly preparing to shut down its app in the United States by Sunday as the looming federal ban draws closer, according to multiple sources. This move follows the government's decision to enforce a ban on the platform due to national security concerns, a decision that has sent shockwaves through millions of American users.

In response to the government's drastic action, users have begun migrating to a different Chinese-owned app called RedNote, which has seen a significant surge in downloads. The rise of RedNote highlights the growing frustration among users who are now looking for alternatives to TikTok, just as the government takes steps to cut off access to the popular app.

The federal government has made it clear that it will enforce the ban unless TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, sells the app to a government-approved buyer. As of now, there are no confirmed plans for a sale, and TikTok is bracing for what could be a major disruption to its millions of US users.

According to reports, TikTok users in the US will be greeted by a new message when they try to open the app on Sunday. The app will display a pop-up directing users to a webpage that explains the situation and offers them the chance to download their data before the app is effectively shut down. While the app won't be deleted from users' phones right away, it will no longer be available for download from app stores, and updates will be halted. Without updates, the app is expected to eventually become glitchy and difficult to use, particularly as mobile phone companies like Apple and Google will be prohibited from supporting it.

The deadline for action is fast approaching, with the federal government's imposed January 19 deadline just days away. TikTok has made efforts to delay the ban, arguing that it would violate the company's First Amendment rights to free speech. The only way to block the ban at this point would be for the US Supreme Court to intervene, and it has already heard oral arguments on the case. Early signs suggest that the court may uphold the ban, which would leave TikTok with few options moving forward.

The impending ban is expected to affect more than 170 million Americans, or roughly half of the country’s population, who use TikTok regularly. TikTok has warned that as many as a third of its US users may abandon the app within a month of the ban being enforced, but many of those users have already begun searching for alternatives.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of this migration has been RedNote, another Chinese-owned platform that has been gaining significant traction. This week, RedNote became the most downloaded app on Apple’s App Store in the US, marking a major shift in the social media landscape. Although much of the content on RedNote is still in Chinese due to its parent company, the app has been making efforts to appeal to English-speaking users, with many changes underway to make the platform more user-friendly for the US market.

As the TikTok ban nears and alternatives like RedNote continue to gain ground, it’s clear that the social media space in the US is undergoing a significant shift. While the future of TikTok remains uncertain, many American users are already looking for new platforms to fill the void left by the app’s potential disappearance. For the latest news, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun for the best celebrity news, sports stories, real-life events, and must-see videos.