US TikTok users expressed shock and disbelief on Wednesday after news broke that ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the platform, plans to shut down the app for its 170 million American users by Sunday.

The announcement has brought resignation and anger among users who hoped TikTok could avoid the impending US ban enacted into law in 2023.

“This is very discouraging and very sad,” said Joonsuk Shin, 28, a research manager and content creator based in New York, reacting to ByteDance’s apparent decision to give up the fight.

Some users are calling for a boycott of competing platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, and X, owned by Elon Musk.

“We all need to delete our Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts that same day,” one user urged.

ByteDance has until January 19 to sell TikTok’s US assets or face a nationwide ban due to lawmakers’ concerns over potential national security risks. The US government fears the Chinese government could compel ByteDance to share user data, a claim TikTok has repeatedly denied.

TikTok and ByteDance have challenged the law, arguing it violates First Amendment protections against government restrictions on free speech. However, unless the Supreme Court halts the ban, users attempting to access TikTok on Sunday will encounter a pop-up directing them to a website with shutdown details.
Amber Goode, 28, a true crime content creator from Colorado Springs, expressed frustration with the legal uncertainty.

“Why are they playing with us? I feel like the government is avoiding giving us the answer they already know,” she said.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump may issue an executive order to “save TikTok,” but it remains unclear if such a move could override the ban.

Meanwhile, some creators are saying goodbye to the platform, directing their followers to alternative social media apps. Others are migrating to China-based platforms like RedNote, despite the challenges of navigating sign-up instructions in Mandarin.

If ByteDance proceeds with the shutdown, millions of US users face the loss of a platform that has shaped their social interactions, careers, and creativity.