As TikTok’s ban moves closer to becoming a reality in the United States, it might be time to start thinking about other early adopter platforms in case you’re left to fill the 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 timeline, TikTok isn’t going to disappear right away, 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 sell TikTok, it will likely be without the app’s algorithms, meaning that if TikTok avoids a ban, there’s a chance the app will look different than what millions of Americans are used to.
Given all these scenarios, it’s not too early to start looking at other platforms. While there is no 1:1 TikTok replacement, there are some viable options to consider that offer a similar experience. Many companies have spent the last few years creating TikTok clones of their own products, and some of them are worth checking out.
Instagram reels
Image Credits: After
Instagram’s Reels product is arguably the most popular TikTok clone, and with good reason. Many of the videos are the same, as creators often share the same content they post on TikTok with Instagram Reels. Additionally, many of the trending sounds and themes on TikTok eventually make their way to Instagram Reels. Since much of the content is the same, Instagram Reels might be the best choice for a TikTok alternative.
However, since TikTok’s algorithm is largely inconsistent, Instagram Reels may not be able to show you videos that interest you at the same level as TikTok. However, Instagram has improved Reels’ recommendation algorithm, so we can probably expect it to be better overtime.
If you’re someone who uses TikTok as a sort of search engine to find places to explore or eat around you, Reels might be the best alternative for you because the feed has a “Nearby” tab that shows content related to your geographic location.
If a TikTok ban becomes a reality, Instagram Reels will likely become the most popular home for short-form video content because it already dominates the social media landscape so much, so you might want to check it out and get used to it if they haven’t already.
YouTube shorts
Image Credits: YouTube
YouTube is another platform that has created a product similar to TikTok. YouTube Shorts might be the best TikTok alternative for you if you’re someone who likes to find new music on TikTok, since YouTube Shorts has access to YouTube’s huge library of songs and music videos, something YouTube no longer has. TikTok because of its eyes with Universal Music Group.
YouTube Shorts also has an advantage over other services on this list, which is an 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 has the potential to become the go-to place for short-form content as well, especially if popular TikTok creators choose it as their new home of their content.
Unfortunately, the content on YouTube Shorts is often not as engaging as it can be on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, as it sometimes includes content reposted from larger YouTube videos. However, you could search for content you want to see and find videos based on hashtags or keywords.
Snapchat Spotlight
Image Credits: Snapchat
Snapchat’s Spotlight Stream is another viable TikTok alternative if you’re looking for short and entertaining content. Unlike TikTok and Instagram Reels, Spotlight generally only shows funny and lighthearted videos. You probably won’t find any political or news content on the stream, which could be a selling point for some users.
Spotlight has a trendy section where you can watch popular videos based on different topics and trending songs. Similar to TikTok and Instagram wheels, you can search for content based on keywords and hashtags.
However, one of the biggest downsides when it comes to Snapchat Spotlight is that it has struggled to reach its younger users. Since adults are more likely to use a platform like TikTok or Instagram Reels, you may not find the content in Spotlight as appealing because it is primarily aimed at a younger audience.
Unfortunately, the comments section on Spotlight videos isn’t as great 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
Fan base is a subscription-based social network that is essentially a combination of TikTok, Instagram, Patreon, Clubhouse, and Snapchat. The app features short videos, images, long videos, Stories, live streams and audio rooms. While the app is free to use, you can pay a subscription to access exclusive content.
What makes Fanbase a potential TikTok alternative is the app’s “Flickz” stream. Like TikTok, Flickz includes a feed for discovery 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, humor, and more.
The app was founded with the mission of appreciating and platforming black creators, whose content is often appropriated or devalued on traditional social media platforms. Fanbase is an ad-free platform that promises never to shadowban or throttle content.
Zigazoo
Image Credits: Zigazoo
Zigazoo is a relatively new short-form video platform aimed at young users and could be a good TikTok alternative for kids and teens. The app features lighthearted and playful videos and is considered a safer alternative to TikTok as it has no comment feature and strict moderation policies.
The app allows users to browse or create short videos based on challenges or educational messages. Zigazoo also features fun dance videos, which are one of TikTok’s most popular content categories. Like TikTok and Instagram Reels, the app includes different effects, sounds and filters for videos.
The platform is poised for success, having raised a total of $20 million from notable investors such as Jimmy Kimmel, Serena Williams, TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, and the NBA.
While the app doesn’t replace TikTok for adults, it’s a great alternative for younger users, especially those with parents who are concerned about TikTok’s potential harm to children and teens.
London, United Kingdom – July 31, 2018: Reddit app buttons surrounded by Pinterest, Whatsapp and other apps on an iPhone screen.
Reddit might not be the first platform you think of when looking at TikTok alternatives, but the app’s video stream is worth checking out, especially if you already frequent the app. The platform offers a video stream of popular short-form content that you can swipe through. There is also a comments section that you can access by swiping up.
It’s worth noting that the content in the stream is somewhat different from the videos you see on TikTok. While TikTok often shows you content directly from creators, Reddit’s video feed often shows reposted viral videos that people have discussed.
If you’re someone who mainly goes to TikTok for viral, funny videos, then Reddit’s video stream can be a good place to get your short-form video fix.
Image Credits: Nikolas Kokovlis / NurPhoto / Getty Images
You might be wondering why LinkedIn is on this list, but hear me out. TechCrunch reported last month that LinkedIn is testing a new TikTok-like video stream on its app. The stream includes content about news events, politics, career development, office humor, professionalism and more. If you’re someone whose TikTok ‘For You’ feed often includes content like this, then LinkedIn’s TikTok clone could be a viable alternative for you.
Since the stream is still fairly new, LinkedIn has the potential to create a viable adult TikTok alternative. Exists chatter already about how LinkedIn was able to compete with X (after the mess after Musk bought it), so there’s a chance that LinkedIn can 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 been teasing Vine’s return since buying the social network formerly known as Twitter. In one case, Elon he asked his followers if he had to bring Vine back. On another occasion, he he replied “very good” in a tweet calling for the return of Vine.
As a refresher: Vine was incredibly popular in the early to mid-2010s, but shut down in 2017 after Twitter bought it. The move was quite controversial and since then, many popular Vine creators have moved to TikTok or YouTube.
If TikTok was banned, it would make sense for Musk and X Corp to bring Vine back and capitalize on TikTok’s loss. Since Vine is largely credited for pioneering short-form video, the app would have the potential to make a big comeback.
Of course, there’s the question of whether the app will stick to its original 7-second limit. It’s been years since Vine popularized the short-form video format, and people’s appetite for content has moved beyond 7 seconds as TikTok and Instagram Reels let you post longer videos. Regardless of what a re-release 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.
