"RIP to TikTok lmao": Fans react hilariously as TikTok confirms it will shut down in the United States on January 19th 

In a sort-of-expected-but-still-shocking announcement, TikTok has confirmed that it will be shutting down operations in the U.S. on January 19, 2025, unless the Supreme Court steps in to overturn or delay the ruling requiring the app to be sold, The Guardian reports. (Thoughts and prayers!).

As we inch closer to the date of ban, fans have taken to social media, infiltrating comment sections with funny quips and hit tweets about the ban. One user summed up the overall vibe with the now-viral tweet,

"Rip to TikTok lmao,"

The above conveys, we believe, most people's disbelief (via humor, of course) over the app's soon-to-be demise in the U.S.

The highly debated decision has raised conversations on issues of data security, national sovereignty, and the impact of social networks on the fabric of society. If TikTok is the most popular application amongst Gen Z and younger audiences, its ban would probably signify the death of an era for influencers, normal users, and content creators.

On the contrary, while some are trying their best to cope with this loss, some have found even more entertainment in the whole debacle and have jokingly stated how life would look without the app. Now there’s a January 19 kind of deadline and when it comes to the app’s future in America, everything is still up in the air and the app’s users have responded to it in the most hilarious and emotional ways.

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Fans react hilariously to TikTok’s looming shutdown

As the rumor of TikTok’s influence being revoked began doing rounds on social media, it became a haven for the most hilarious memes and reactions. Users remained true to their creativity and jumped onto Twitter with thoughts of how the world will look without this most loved app.

One user couldn’t help but point out the irony of the timing, tweeting,

"fires in California and snow storms across the United States and they’re worried about a social media app 😭,"

highlighting the chaos of recent events versus the focus on a social media ban. Another tweet added a sarcastic spin on the alternatives to TikTok, writing,

"Now we have to use IG Reels are you kidding me" alongside a photo of someone looking disappointedly at their phone, perfectly capturing the sentiment of having to settle for a lesser substitute.

Other users are already thinking about the potential business impact of the shutdown, specifically for VPN companies. One post joked,

"VPN companies on the 19th," accompanied by a GIF of a man holding stacks of cash, suggesting VPN providers might be the biggest winners in the situation.

Amidst the jokes, some users were genuinely devastated by the thought of losing their saved content, with one user lamenting,

"all of my bookmarks… omg. PLEASE STOP THIS RIGHT NOW,"

paired with a crying GIF. Another user added,

"MY SHAYLAAA" with a GIF of two women crying, making light of the emotional investment many have in the app.

Others are even taking precautionary measures, with one tweet reading,

"Let me start downloading my bookmarks just to be safe… i can’t risk it."

The final nail in the coffin? One user summed up the whirlwind start to 2025 with,

"america downfall in the first 3 weeks of the year was not in my bingo card."

Given the collective rollercoaster of recent weeks, it's no surprise that fans are trying to cope with humor.

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The legal battle behind TikTok’s potential ban

The ongoing legal dispute regarding the Chinese ownership of TikTok is mainly responsible for the app's closure in the US. American lawmakers were apprehensive about the ByteDance owned application due to the cyber security information which the app posed. In the US, the government passed a law restricting ByteDance from selling TikTok to American buyers, or else the app would be banned across the country.

Due to the complication of the court proceedings, the hearings have continued to be postponed and dragged out. Nevertheless, January 19, 2025 appears to be the date when the Supreme Court will make a final decision on whether they will continue to impose a ban or abolish the law.

TikTok has not yet mentioned any plans to close down, one thing is clear; its devotees are not allowing other people to laugh at them.

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So, whether TikTok is able to extend or enable the ban keeps us in anticipation, for now, the reactions of the fans on social media have been immensely amusing. The internet may be deprived of a remarkable application, but yet again, the internet does not run out of humor.