If there’s one new trend our parents have learnt how to do, it’s not fishing, rushing for MRT seats, or finding the best deals online.
It’s doomscrolling on TikTok.
Unfortunately for users in the United States, TikTok is facing a nationwide ban due to national security concerns raised by the US government.
The app might shut down nationwide this Sunday (19 January 2025).
While the Biden administration laid the groundwork for this ban, with Joe Biden signing a bill in April 2024 to support it, President-elect Donald Trump has stepped in with plans to stop the ban and save TikTok.
TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi Reportedly Receiving “VIP Seat” at Trump’s Inauguration
In light of President-elect Trump’s support, TikTok’s CEO, Singaporean Chew Shou Zi, plans to attend Trump’s inauguration.
According to The New York Times, Chew has been invited to sit in a “VIP seat” on the dais alongside former presidents, family members, and other high-profile guests.
The 42-year-old Singaporean will join tech leaders like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, all of which have also been invited to the event.
This won’t be Chew’s first interaction with Trump. Last month, he visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as part of ongoing efforts to avert the ban.
Trump Wasn’t Initially Fond of TikTok, But Now He Intends to Save It
Trump’s intend to save TikTok might come as a surprise to some.
During his first term as president in 2020, Trump was a staunch critic of the platform, signing an executive order alleging that TikTok collected large amounts of data on Americans, leaving it vulnerable to the Chinese government.
However, the order was later blocked by a federal judge and eventually abandoned by the Biden administration.
Trump had a change of heart which was revealed in one of his TikTok videos as part of his 2024 presidential campaign.
“I’m gonna save TikTok,” he said.
@realdonaldtrumpNo Tax on Tips!♬ original sound – President Donald J Trump
The 8-second TikTok video garnered over 8 million likes and 500,000 shares, resonating with many users who shared his sentiment.
What Happens if TikTok is Banned in the US?
As of now, TikTok is set to shut down its operations in the US this Sunday. President-elect Trump, however, will take office the very next day on Monday (20 January 2025).
According to The Washington Post, Trump is considering issuing an executive order to delay the shutdown for 60 to 90 days.
However, the feasibility of such an order remains unclear.
Therefore, it seems unclear as to whether Trump could save TikTok in the US. If he does, he could save millions of lives.
Yes, the 170 million American users of TikTok.
Xiaohongshu Gains Popularity Amid Potential TikTok Ban
Since the talks of a TikTok ban have been going on in the US, and knowing that the ban could take place as early as this Sunday, many Americans are migrating to Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media app.
Xiaohongshu, also known as “Little Red Book”, primarily features Mandarin content and caters to a Chinese-speaking audience.
However, the app has experienced a dramatic shift in its user base in recent days.
Within two days, more than 700,000 new U.S. users joined Xiaohongshu, according to Reuters.
Many prominent American TikTok influencers, fearing the loss of their audience, have publicly announced their move to the platform.
This includes Nick Digiovanni, a TikTok star with over 13 million followers, known for his short cooking videos and his third-place finish on MasterChef US.
@jessy__essy im gonna pee I can’t stop laughing😭 @nick.digiovanni #tiktokrefugee #rednote #fyp ♬ NI HAO – Jessy__essy
Digiovanni’s Xiaohongshu video went viral as he attempted to speak Mandarin. At least he tried, right?
The hashtag #TikTokRefugee has also gone viral on both TikTok and Xiaohongshu.
Meanwhile, Xiaohongshu climbed to the top spot on Apple’s US App Store this week, according to CNN.
With the TikTok ban just days away, it will be interesting to see if Xiaohongshu becomes the next big thing on the global market.
You can watch this video to know more about Xiaohongshu:
If you watch at least 10 minutes of brain rot content daily, you must know this:
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