With the TikTok ban about to become a reality in the United States, it may be time to start thinking about other platforms to adopt sooner in case you’re forced to fill the gap void left by the popular app at some point in the future.
On Wednesday, President Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, fails to sell the app within a year, bringing the possibility of a TikTok ban closer than ever. However, given the one-year deadline, TikTok isn’t going to disappear immediately, especially since the company has vowed to fight the bill in court.
China is also expected to block a sale because the Chinese government would have to approve the transfer of the app’s algorithms. And if ByteDance does indeed sell TikTok, it would likely be without the app’s algorithms, meaning that if TikTok avoids a ban, it’s possible the app will be different than what millions of Americans are used to.
Considering all of these scenarios, it’s not too early to start considering other platforms. While there is no 1:1 replacement for TikTok, there are a few viable options to consider that offer a similar experience. Many companies have spent the last few years creating TikTok clones in their own products, and some of them are worth considering.
Instagram Reels
Image credits: Meta
Instagram’s Reels product is arguably the most popular TikTok clone, and for good reason. Many videos are identical because creators often share the same content they post on TikTok on Instagram Reels. Additionally, many trending sounds and topics on TikTok end up on Instagram Reels. Since much of the content is the same, Instagram Reels might be the best option for a TikTok alternative.
However, since TikTok’s algorithm is largely unmatched, Instagram Reels might not be able to surface the videos you’re interested in on the same level as TikTok. But Instagram has improved the Reels recommendation algorithm, so we can probably expect it to improve over time.
If you use TikTok as a sort of search engine to find places to explore or eat around you, Reels might be the best alternative for you as the feed has a “Nearby” tab that features content related to your location geographical.
If a TikTok ban becomes a reality, Instagram Reels will likely become the most popular site for short-form video content, as it already largely dominates the social media landscape, which is why you might want to check it out and get used to it if you wish it. not already.
YouTube Short Films
Image credits: Youtube
YouTube is another platform that has developed a TikTok-like product. YouTube Shorts might be the best TikTok alternative for you if you’re someone who likes finding new music on TikTok, given that YouTube Shorts has access to YouTube’s vast library of songs and music videos, something that TikTok is no longer due to his dispute. with Universal Music Group.
YouTube Shorts also has an advantage that the other services on this list don’t have, which is integration with a popular long-form video content platform. Millions of people around the world already go to YouTube every day to watch content, so if TikTok were to be banned, YouTube could also become the go-to place for short-form content, especially if popular TikTok creators choose it. as a new home for their content.
Unfortunately, YouTube Shorts content is often not as engaging as it can be on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, as it sometimes features content that has been republished from longer YouTube videos. However, you can search for the content you want to see and find videos based on hashtags or keywords.
Spotlight on Snapchat
Image credits: Snapchat
Snapchat’s Spotlight feed is another viable alternative to TikTok if you’re looking for short, entertaining content. Unlike TikTok and Instagram Reels, Spotlight generally only features fun, light-hearted videos. You probably won’t find any political or news content on the feed, which could be a selling point for some users.
Spotlight has a trending section where you can watch popular videos based on different trending topics and songs. Similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, you can search for content based on keywords and hashtags.
However, one of the biggest drawbacks of Snapchat Spotlight is that it has struggled to reach beyond its youngest users. Since adults are more likely to use a platform like TikTok or Instagram Reels, you may not find Spotlight’s content as engaging since it’s primarily aimed at a younger audience.
Unfortunately, the comments section on Spotlight videos isn’t as engaging as on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, where sometimes the top comments can be more entertaining than the video itself.
Fan base
Image credits: Fan base
Fanbase is a subscription-based social network that is essentially a combination of TikTok, Instagram, Patreon, Clubhouse and Snapchat. The app offers short videos, images, long videos, stories, live streams and audio rooms. Although the app is free, you can pay a subscription to access exclusive content.
What makes Fanbase a possible alternative to TikTok is the app’s “Flickz” feed. Like TikTok, Flickz includes a discovery feed and another feed dedicated to content from creators you follow. You can find all kinds of content on Fanbase, including videos about sports, cooking, music, comedy, and more.
The app was founded with the mission of empowering and highlighting Black creators, whose content is often misappropriated or undervalued on traditional social media platforms. Fanbase is an ad-free platform that promises to never ban or remove content.
Zigazoo
Image credits: Zigazoo
Zigazoo is a relatively new short-form video platform aimed at younger users and could be a good alternative to TikTok for kids and teens. The app offers light, playful videos and is considered a safer alternative to TikTok, as it does not have a comments feature and has strict moderation policies.
The app allows users to browse or create short videos based on challenges or educational prompts. Zigazoo also offers fun dance videos, which are one of the most popular content categories on TikTok. Like TikTok and Instagram Reels, the app includes different effects, sounds and filters for video.
The platform is poised for success, having raised a total of $20 million from notable investors like Jimmy Kimmel, Serena Williams, TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, and the NBA.
While the app isn’t a replacement for TikTok for adults, it’s a great alternative for younger users, especially those whose parents are concerned about the potential dangers of TikTok for children and teens.
London, United Kingdom – July 31, 2018: Reddit app buttons, surrounded by Pinterest, Whatsapp and other apps on an iPhone screen.
Reddit may not be the first platform you think of when considering alternatives to TikTok, but the app’s video feed is worth a look, especially if you already frequent the app. The platform offers a video feed containing popular short-form content that you can browse. There is also a comments section that you can access by swiping up.
It should be noted that the content of the feed is somewhat different from the videos you see on TikTok. While TikTok often shows you content directly from creators, Reddit’s video feed often brings up reposted viral videos that people have been discussing.
If you’re someone who primarily checks TikTok for viral and funny videos, Reddit’s video feed might be a good place to get your short-form video fix.
Image credits: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty Images
You may be wondering why LinkedIn is on this list, but hear me out. TechCrunch reported last month that LinkedIn was testing a new TikTok-like video feed in its app. The feed features content on current affairs, politics, career development, office humor, professionalism, and more. If you’re someone whose “For You” TikTok feed often includes content like this, then LinkedIn’s TikTok clone might be a viable alternative for you.
Since the stream is still relatively new, LinkedIn has the potential to create a viable alternative to TikTok for adults. There’s already talk about how LinkedIn was able to compete with X (following the chaos following its purchase by Musk), so it’s possible that LinkedIn will take on TikTok as well. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Vine
Image credits: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto / Getty Images
Now, before you get too excited, no, Vine is not back.
However, X owner Elon Musk has teased the return of Vine since he purchased the social network formerly known as Twitter. On one occasion, Elon asked his subscribers if he were to bring Vine back. In another case, he replied “Very good” to a tweet calling for the return of Vine.
As a reminder: Vine was incredibly popular in the early to mid-2010s, but was shut down in 2017 after it was purchased by Twitter. This move was quite controversial and since then many popular Vine creators have moved to TikTok or YouTube.
If TikTok were to be banned, it would make sense for Musk and X Corp to bring back Vine and capitalize on TikTok’s loss. Since Vine is widely recognized for the emergence of short-form videos, the app would have the potential to make a big comeback.
Of course, the question arises whether the app would meet its initial 7-second limit. It’s been years since Vine popularized the short-form video format, and people’s appetite for content has grown beyond 7 seconds, as TikTok and Instagram Reels allow you to post longer videos. Regardless of what a relaunch would look like, I think it’s safe to say that people would be interested, especially if TikTok was no longer a player in the short-form video market.
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