As the U.S. considers a potential TikTok ban, users of this widely-used video-sharing app might be anxious about the implications for their content.

According to Reuters, which cited informed sources, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, may entirely shut down the app by Sunday if a federal ban is enforced. This news was initially reported by The Information.

If this occurs, users may lose access to their favorite videos, whether created by themselves or other TikTok users.

While there are ongoing discussions about finding a new owner or operator for TikTok’s U.S. branch, the uncertainty surrounding the app’s future might prompt users to take precautions, especially if ByteDance actively decides to close it down.

“It’s not yet known if users will still be able to upload content or save videos from creators who permit downloads once the ban takes place,” Mollie Lobel, an affiliate and influencer community manager at BrandCycle − which connects creators with brands − mentioned in a statement to YSL News. “These details will likely depend on how the ban is implemented.”

The absence of TikTok would create a significant void for numerous users, as the average American TikTok user spends almost an hour on the platform each day, research from eMarketer shows.

“Many creators are likely thinking about saving videos and whatever they might need from TikTok for future reference while communicating with their followers about alternative ways to stay connected if the app ceases to exist,” Minda Smiley, a senior analyst at eMarketer, shared with YSL News. “Some creators are even asking their followers for email addresses or other contact details to maintain communication post-app closure.”

In addition to creators, “TikTok users might also want to download their videos and inform others of how they can reach them outside of TikTok,” Smiley added.

Can I preserve my TikTok videos? Yes, if you act quickly

If you have cherished TikTok videos – whether they’re of memorable family moments or tutorials on “granny” hobbies like knitting and gardening – it’s wise to download them before Sunday. Here’s how you can do it from your mobile device:

• Your videos: To save your created videos, open them up, click on the three dots, and select the Save Video option to have it stored in your photo gallery.
• Other users’ videos: While creators can choose to disable downloads, many allow it. To save a video, find it, click the Share arrow, and select the Save Video option.

If you prefer downloading your favorite TikTok videos on a desktop, Mashable’s senior culture reporter Christianna Silva suggests using a Google Chrome extension for this purpose.

How to export your TikTok data

You can also extract the data linked to your TikTok account and activities, which includes your username, list of followers, accounts you follow, favorite video links, messages, and more.

To download your data, follow these steps:

• Open the TikTok app and tap on Profile at the bottom.
• Tap the Menu button at the top, then go to Settings and privacy.
• Tap Account.
• Tap Download your data.
• Select the data you wish to include in your download and choose a file format (either .TXT (plain text) or JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file). Both formats can be opened with standard text editors.
• Tap Request data.

Depending on the amount of data in your file, TikTok will send you a download link either within minutes or after a few days.

What led to this situation?

This issue stems from a TikTok sell-or-ban bill that Congress passed due to national security concerns, particularly regarding fears that TikTok may share users’ data with the Chinese government or manipulate content. This bill was signed by President Joe Biden in April. Recently, the Supreme Court heard ByteDance’s appeal against the legislation and is likely to uphold the ban.

Many anticipated that the ban would result in ByteDance removing the app from the Apple and Google stores, which would prevent new users from signing up.

In such a scenario, the app could still function on current users’ devices, but without any updates, “which would mean that bugs and security flaws won’t be resolved,” Lobel noted. “Over time, this would probably make the app less stable and ultimately unusable.”

Contributing: Greta Cross, Jessica Guynn, and Eric Lagatta

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