In just days, TikTok could potentially be banned across the United States, leaving millions without the ability to scroll their way through through their day.

If the Supreme Court doesn't block the federal law that forces the platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance, TikTok will stop its distribution in the US on January 19. 

The decision to ban the app is due to claims that it is a violation of free speech for its millions of American users in the nation. 

If ByteDance doesn't sell the platform to a non-'foreign adversary,' it will become illegal for American internet services to support or even distribute it.

Contrary to popular belief, although TikTok has called the measure a 'total ban,' the app will not magically vanish off users phones if it already exists on their home page, as reported by People.

Pre-existing users may even be able to access its content after January 19 - but the experience would be severely hindered. 

The app would fail to update - including security patches and bug fixes - degrading the quality and making it more difficult to use overtime before it becomes completely unworkable.

So with the impending TikTok ban, what are the alternatives platforms to scrolling the time away?

Well, as of Monday, an alternative Chinese social media platform jumped to the top of the Apple App Store.

RedNote, which is known in China as Xiaohongshu, the Mandarin term for 'little red book,' is now the most downloaded free app. 

It has many similarities to TikTok, featuring short-form videos and shopping options. 

However, many users have said it more closely resembles Instagram and Pintrest, with users posting reviews, experiences, and lifestyle content.

During the pandemic, RedNote saw explosive growth among younger Chinese users - particularly women - who now make up 79 percent of its 300 million active monthly users, according to New York Post.

Its boom in popularity has also attracted investors with Bloomberg suggesting that in 2024, it was reportedly valued at $17 billion following a secondary share sale with its profits projected to exceed $1 billion.

What are the other alternative platforms to TikTok?

Lemon8 

ByteDance, who own TikTok, first launched Lemon8 in Japan in 2020. The platform is a mix between Instagram and Pinterest.

It has been slowly rolled out worldwide since it was first launched, and landed in the US in February 2023. 

Similar to Instagram, it gives users an opportunity to post a mix of photos and videos as well as allowing content creators to write captions, comments, hashtags, likes, save media, and add location information.

However, there is a chance Lemon8 could be banned from the US as well, because it is owned by the same parent company. 

'Even if the US bans TikTok specifically, Bytedance — the parent company — is already migrating users to a competing very similar app that it also owns called Lemon8,' Josh Constine, of the venture capital firm SignalFire, told CNN. 

He added: 'And so it wouldn't solve the problem unless we basically ban all of ByteDance's apps.'

Triller

Triller is an American social networking app. Much like TikTok, it allows users to create and share short-form videos, including music videos and vlog.

However, it is mainly a music-based app as it allows full songs to be used.

The interface has three tabs - following, music, and social - set up in a similar way to TikTok's popular For You page.

Clapper

Clapper is another social media platform which has similarities to TikTok with a similar set up to TikTok.

It allows users to post videos up to three minutes long and livestream to up to 2,000 people. 

The app curates a feed based on an individual's interests, which they specify when joining - with the interface similar to TikTok.

Neptune

Another form of social media called Neptune, which is a female-owned sharing app, has also been flagged as a possible replacement to TikTok. 

According to the website, it is a 'bold reimagining of what social media can be,' which focuses on content being seen based on 'quality and impact.'

'We're building a space where creators call the shots,' it reads. 'Our platform is designed to empower you to shape your own creative journey, from customizable content feeds to ghost metrics that let your art speak for itself.'

As per Her Campus, the app is also promises monetization, which is good news for content creators.

Unfortunately, the Neptune app is currently in the beta phase and is only available for users registered to their Discord community.