
With possible U.S. TikTok ban just days away, users flock to other apps
The Hindu
With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms.
With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularised the short-form video app.
TikTok, which has been a cultural phenomenon, could be banned on January 19 under a law that forces the platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or shut down its U.S. operation.
The fate of social media platform will be decided by the Supreme Court, which last week heard oral arguments in a legal challenge to the statute and seemed likely to uphold the law. The court could rule on the case as soon as this week. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has asked the justices to put the law on hold so he can negotiate a “political resolution” to the issue after he takes office.
TikTok has more than 170 million users in the U.S., and if it does get banned, it’s not clear which competitors will benefit the most. Some experts think established social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, could see the biggest influx of users. But some users are looking for something different and could turn to other apps.
Here are the different alternatives and what to know about them:
Recently, some U.S. TikTok users have flocked to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu in protest of the looming ban. Like TikTok, Xiaohongshu, which in English means “Little Red Book,” combines e-commerce and short-form videos.
The app has gained traction in China and other regions with a Chinese diaspora — such as Malaysia and Taiwan — racking up 300 million monthly active users, a majority of whom are young women who use it as a de-facto search engine for product, travel and restaurant recommendations, as well as makeup and skincare tutorials.

In a heartfelt celebration of World Environment Day, students of Sri Venkateswara Middle School in Nanganallur undertook a tree saplings planting initiative on June 11, 2025. The activity saw enthusiastic participation as students, along with teachers and staff, planted saplings around the school campus, including the school playground. Though World Environment Day was officially observed on June 5, the school extended the spirit of the occasion by organising the event later in the week to ensure full student involvement. The aim was not only to beautify the school but also to instill a sense of environmental responsibility among young learners. The event concluded with a short awareness session where students pledged to care for the plants and spread the message of environmental protection within their communities. Besides, the students and teachers took a pledge to protect the environment.