Downloads, Trump and VPNs: Everything you need to know before TikTok is banned

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that effectively bans the social media app TikTok in the US. The law was signed by President Joe Biden last year and calls for the app to be sold by Chinese parent company ByteDance by Sunday.

The court said that while TikTok is a “distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, a vehicle for engagement, and a source of community,” Congress decided the sale was necessary to “address its well-regarded national security concerns about the practices of TikTok to collect data and the connection with a foreign adversary”.

If the company doesn’t sell the app by Sunday, here’s what US social media users should expect.

Will I be able to download TikTok on my phone?

Under the law, app stores run by companies like Apple and Google will have to remove the app from their stores overnight or face civil penalties. This means that you will not be able to download the app to your device, and it also means that ByteDance will not be able to issue updates to the app.

Will I still be able to access TikTok if I already have it?

If you have already downloaded the app on your device, yes. The law does not make the app on your phone illegal.

Since app stores won’t be able to distribute app updates after the law goes into effect, your experience with the app may deteriorate over time and even become insecure. It’s unclear how long the app will run on your device without regular updates.

Will I be able to access TikTok from a web browser?

No, the law applies to both app stores and ISPs.

Could TikTok just stop working in the US?

Yes, there is a chance that TikTok will stop working completely in the US.

According to the technical website The informationsources said TikTok was preparing to shut down the app to US users on Sunday, the same day the law would take effect. This means that even if you have the app on your device, it won’t work. Shutting down the app entirely in the US would be a step beyond what the law requires. The report also says that TikTok plans to give people the option to download their data so they can take into account their personal information.

TikTok did not respond to CNET’s request for comment.

How do I save my posts and videos that I like?

TikTok lets you download your posts and posts from your favorite creators. Here’s how to download posts from your favorite artists before Sunday.

1. Open TikTok.
2. Touch Share button on a post — it’s the arrow on the right side of your screen.
3. Touch Save video.

Here’s how to save your own posts.

1. Open TikTok.
2. Go to your profile.
3. Tap a post.
4. Tap the three dots (…) on the right side of your screen.
5. Touch Save video.

The app will save these posts to your photo library.

Can I use a VPN to access TikTok?

You could potentially use a VPN on your phone or browser to access TikTok, yes.

“A virtual private network is a privacy tool that hides your IP address by sending your Internet traffic through a remote server,” CNET’s Mo Long writes. “If I’m in New York but tunneling through a London server with ExpressVPNDisney Plus thinks I’m across the pond.”

A VPN can make TikTok look like you’re accessing it from the UK or another country where it’s not banned, when you’re actually in the US.

You can also potentially use a proxy server to access TikTok. A proxy server, like a VPN, masks your IP address by first sending your traffic through another server. The main difference between the two is that a proxy does not offer as comprehensive privacy protection as a VPN.

Can President-elect Trump save TikTok?

It is not clear at the moment. The law will take effect on Sunday, one day before the inauguration of the president-elect. So even if Trump wants to do something about the law, it will still go into effect, at least for that one day.

Trump’s lawyers filed an amicus brief in the case two weeks ago, asking the court to delay the ban to give him time to come up with a “policy solution.” Right now, Trump won’t be able to do anything about it until he takes office one day after the law goes into effect.

For more on the case, here’s what you need to know about The decision of the Supreme Court.