• The United States will ban TikTok unless a deal is made to sell it to a US investor or the Supreme Court intervenes.
• The ban follows a law signed by President Biden, affecting roughly 170 million TikTok users in the country.
• Experts say that workarounds like VPNs will likely be ineffective, limiting user access to a web-based version only.
• Apple and Google will remove TikTok from their app stores, leading to major functionality losses for the app.
• The law poses challenges not only for US users but may also impact millions of TikTok users worldwide.

The impending ban on TikTok in the United States is set to take effect unless a deal is negotiated to transfer ownership of the platform from China's ByteDance to a US investor or unless the US Supreme Court intervenes. This unprecedented move arises from a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, which targets the app’s extensive user base of approximately 170 million domestic users. The ban represents the first significant governmental effort to terminate access to a widely utilized application, igniting concerns regarding its implementation and ramifications for users.

Experts outline that the method by which this ban will unfold is particularly thorough, as it extends to a multitude of US-based partners that contribute to TikTok's functionality. This strategy effectively hampers many attempted workarounds that users might resort to, such as employing a virtual private network (VPN) or altering their device's geographical settings. Assuredly, the most optimistic outcome for users—a limited web-based version of TikTok—would possess reduced functionality and possibly face accessibility issues, as noted by [Reuters](http://reuters.com/technology/how-tiktok-ban-would-work-why-user-workarounds-wont-2025-01-16/).

Although the law itself will not technically compel users to delete the app, TikTok plans to initiate a formal shutdown. Users will receive prompts regarding the law and will be allowed to download their personal data prior to the service discontinuation. Moreover, with Apple and Google prepared to remove TikTok from their app stores, users will miss out on critical updates and support that keep the application functional.

As articulated by Joseph Lorenzo Hall of the Internet Society, "Some subset of that stuff that is required for the app to actually work" could diminish, hinting at diminishing capabilities for users attempting to upload or access content. The expulsion of associated service providers might not only restrain US users but could also reverberate across the globe among TikTok's international audience.

Alongside the anticipated obstacles, alternative methods to maneuver around the ban entail using a VPN. However, TikTok's technological frameworks allow the app to ascertain the user's location through various means, diminishing the efficacy of VPNs. Jason Kelley from the Electronic Frontier Foundation elaborated on this, stating, "It won't be a good service for you, and it won't be a profitable service for them."

Potential users have even considered switching their iPhones' country settings, but implementing such changes would necessitate cancellations of current subscriptions and adaptions to new payment systems, complicating any attempt at continuity. Overall, the intricacies related to circumventing the ban suggest that it may compel TikTok enthusiasts to procure additional devices solely for accessing the platform, humorously suggested by Hall's remark regarding "Congress forcing the influencer population to carry two phones”. Nevertheless, even adjusting device settings would remain ineffective, as the prohibition extends unequivocally to app distribution by major providers in the US.

In summary, while the countdown to the TikTok ban progresses, users face substantial challenges in trying to preserve their access to the platform, with experts urging a clear path for future discussions regarding digital accessibility.

For more details, kindly refer to the original article from SCMP and Reuters.