The Internet has been in absolute shambles over the weekend.
Though the US has threatened to ban TikTok for some time now, we have been stuck in a will they won’t they situation, where most of us presumed they would just back out of the decision as the end date drew closer. After all, there’s no way the US would actually ban it, right?
Wrong. In the biggest televised breakup since Ross and Rachel, the US decided to follow through with their threats and ban the app.
Since then, the world has been plunged into mass hysteria. Overnight, the prospect of TikTok’s ban has gone from a funny joke to a very serious reality.
As mass hysteria often does, the panic surrounding TikTok has spread worldwide, and countries are worried that they will be next.
Because the UK often follows suit with the US, there is a fear that TikTok is set to be banned in the UK. We implore you to take a 2-minute break from hyperventilating and saving cat videos to read this blog, where you will find out more about what’s really happening with TikTok in the UK.
Settle in; Blaze has got you.
Why Was TikTok Banned in The USA?
In a country where guns are legal, it seems that the biggest threats to its citizens are Kinder Eggs and short-form content.
There is much speculation about why the app was banned in the USA, but the real reasons are far less exciting.

For years, politicians throughout the US have voiced concerns about potential data leaks. The general belief is that the app may be responsible for sharing data with the Chinese government. Of course, TikTok has denied this… because it’s not true.
We understand that complex technologies may confuse the Senate, which seems trapped in the 1930s based on its votes concerning women’s autonomy.
The US government gave TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, the option to sell its part ownership in TikTok. As our 2025 TikTok marketing guide predicted, that clearly didn’t happen.
In a shocking turn of events, TikTok was banned… for a whole twelve hours.
Why Was TikTok Unbanned So Quickly?
To nobody’s surprise, TikTok was back up and running just twelve hours after it was banned.
The following day was especially awkward for many US TikTokers, who admitted to all of the lies they had told while using the app, thinking that it would be gone forever.
In a move that anyone could have seen, Trump stepped in to restore the service even though he had previously backed the ban. We just love a President with integrity.
All jokes aside, as of right now, the law’s implementation has been delayed to allow for more time for a deal to be made, so there is every chance that a ban is coming, just not yet.
Until that time comes, make sure you get to know the other platforms at your disposal, as you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket only to be caught out. If you want to learn more about utilising other social media platforms, make the most of our Blaze expertise.
Were TikTok Accounts Deleted After The Ban?
If you are from the UK and you were on TikTok during the nail-biting 12 hours when the US was missing from the app, you’ll remember that it felt like an eerie graveyard for a few hours.
Though the app was banned, all the US TikTok accounts were still up, and if you were outside of the US, you could still access the content on the pages.
If the UK were to ban TikTok, we can only imagine that it would be the same scenario. This just highlights the importance of having quality content on your TikTok page.
If you were to lose access to your page right now, would you be happy for the rest of the world to be able to view what you have up? If the answer is no, it might be time to consider outsourcing your social media management.
How is Trump Involved in The Tiktok Ban?
Donald Trump is responsible for the delay of the TikTok ban. President Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with the necessary laws to prevent the ban.
Though, as of right now, the exact reasons behind why Trump has chosen to delay the ban are not clear, we expect to receive more clarity before the 75-day extension is up.

This executive order has given TikTok more time to come to a solution. That solution could be anyone’s guess, but we predict that TikTok is about to be purchased by some very wealthy people.
Is TikTok a Chinese App?
Misinformation is rife at the moment, and there tends to be a common belief that TikTok is a Chinese app. As the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew has clarified dozens of times the app was in fact developed and released in Singapore.
As we discussed above, one of the main reasons why the US government is so set on banning the app is because they believe that TikTok is a Chinese-run app and it is selling American data to the Chinese government.
Is TikTok Banned in China?
There is much confusion surrounding TikTok’s relationship with China. Although the app is not banned in China and can be easily downloaded, it simply has no presence there. This is because the Chinese people prefer its sister app, Douyin, which is very similar to TikTok.
We hope to have clarified in this blog that China has no involvement (that we know of) in TikTok.
It can be easy to feed into online gossip, and it can be difficult to know what to believe, but one clear thing is that TikTok is a fantastic resource for businesses, offering features such as the Creator Marketplace. Until we know the reality of the situation, make the most of it.
Can I Use a VPN If TikTok Gets Banned?
You would think that an obvious solution for getting around the TikTok ban would be to use a VPN, but surprisingly, many US users encountered issues when they tried to use a VPN as a solution.
Using a VPN alone has proven to not be enough to circumvent the ban, but users found that if they removed their SIM from their device and used a non-US account, they were able to use a VPN to spoof their location and access TikTok.
So, though there are challenges, you may be able to access TikTok through a VPN if necessary.

Has The EU Banned TikTok?
You will be glad to know that the EU has not banned TikTok for general public use, but there are some regulations in place when using the app. For example, staff for the European Commission are not allowed TikTok on their work devices due to cyber security concerns.
As of right now, there is no blanket ban on TikTok, so you’re still free to browse or market your business using all of TikTok’s wonderful features. A feature in particular that we would definitely recommend getting to know is the Business Creative Center, which can provide valuable insights into the latest TikTok trends.
What is The Age Limit For TikTok in The UK?
Currently, the minimum age requirement for using TikTok in the UK is 13 years. It is important to note that there is no age verification process, and it is as easy as clicking a button.
But nobody would ever lie about their age, right?
To give TikTok some credit, it tends to quickly delete accounts when it discovers that an underage person owns the account. If the account is owned by someone under 18, parental approval is required.
To protect users, there is a feature in place in the app that prevents users under the age of 16 from sending direct messages, so this is a positive step towards proper safeguarding.
Good job, TikTok.
What Will Replace TikTok if It’s Banned?
A big question that has been floating around the internet recently is, what will replace TikTok if it’s banned?
At Blaze, we think there are a few contenders to replace TikTok. Based on what happened during the 12-hour ban, Instagram and RedNote are currently front runners.
Instagram has already proven to be an excellent marketing tool, making it easier than ever to advertise your business and products. But in 2020, it went head to head with TikTok as the best source for short-form content, introducing Instagram Reels.
Though Instagram Reels feels like an obvious choice, there is no ignoring the number of people who rushed to RedNote when TikTok was banned. RedNote is the English name for a Chinese social networking site called Xiaohongshu, which is a short-form video app not too dissimilar to TikTok, combining features of apps such as Pinterest and Instagram.

We can’t help but appreciate the irony of the US government not wanting US citizens to use TikTok because they are scared of data leaks to the Chinese government, only for a large portion of the country to go straight to RedNote.
Based on what occurred in just twelve hours, we think it’s easy to assume that if TikTok is banned, either Instagram Reels or RedNote will be where most users relocate.
Make Sure You’re Not Dependent on TikTok With The Help of Blaze
We hope that this blog has eased any anxiety that you may have surrounding the untimely demise of the TikTok app.
If the last few days have taught us marketers anything, it is that it is incredibly important for businesses to have a comprehensive marketing strategy in place that spans multiple platforms. There is no point in putting all of your money and resources into one platform, as there is every chance that it could be removed or banned.
Working with an expert marketing agency is essential to ensure that your marketing strategy is airtight. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.