TikTok is back after a rough 14 hours without it. President Donald Trump reinstated the app after initially giving the Chinese company ByteDance 75 days to either sell its U.S. operations or reach a deal.  

Back in July 2020, Trump also had intentions of banning the app due to data privacy and national security but has chosen to save the app because he had obtained majority youth voters due to TikTok. To be more prepared for another potential ban, here are 3 alternatives for TikTok users.   

Item # 1: Lemon8 is a visual social media app that combines the elements of Instagram and Pinterest. It focuses on sharing photos and videos about lifestyle, fashion and beauty content. It was first launched in Japan in 2020 (but has been exposed to various countries since) under ByteDance, the same Chinese company that owns TikTok. 

Pros:  

• It prioritizes aesthetically pleasing photos making ideal for sharing lifestyle content. 
• It’s considered easy to navigate and use with a clean design. 
• The focus is on niche interests.

Cons:  

• Compared to the rest of the platforms, Lemon8 has a smaller user base. 
• Some users maybe be worried about data privacy since it’s owned by ByteDance. 
• It primarily focuses on posting photos more, which may not appeal to people who prefer video content

Item # 2: Red Note (Xiaohongshu)

  Xiaohongshu, also known as Red Note to U.S. users, was founded in 2013. It’s one of China’s biggest social media platforms with 300 million users. The app is used to share popular tips that involve travel, makeup and fashion.   

Red Note gained popularity the same week it was announced that TikTok was going to be banned. The U.S. downloads of Red Note tripled compared to the week before according to the US app stores.  

Pros:  

• It’s similar to TikTok, which makes it easy for users to transition to.  
• Red Note features product reviews and recommendations, which helps with shopping and finding new items.  
• Unlike TikTok, Red Note offers a wider range of content.  

Cons:  

• As a China-based app, there are some privacy concerns.  
• The majority of posters speak Mandarin.   
• The app’s privacy policies might not be transparent. 

Item # 3: Instagram Reels 

 Instagram introduced Reels in August 2020 to try and compete with TikTok. It started as regular 15 second videos but now has the option for 90 second videos, which is very useful for brands and everyday people to promote their content.  

With 2 billion monthly users worldwide according to sproutsocial, Instagram has updated their Reels by announcing on their Instagram page that there was going to be new changes being released in January 2025. The update is more reminiscent of the TikTok algorithm and has visually changed to a rectangular grid format plus a new Reels feed highlighting content that your friends have engaged with.  

Pros:  

• Reels can be a quick and easy way to get a break from your day.  
• Reels allow users to express themselves through short, engaging videos.  
• Reels can potentially reach a large audience for small businesses promoting their work.  

Cons:  

• Watching Reels for an excessive amount of time can make it addictive.  
• Algorithm Challenges like dealing with inauthentic engagement, poor audio quality, and recycled content making harder for small businesses to get engagement in posts.  
• While the videos are entertaining, they are quick which creates a short attention span for users. That doesn’t allow them to engage with the content for longer. 

Finding the right TikTok alternative is like trying to find a new favorite snack, nothing quite hits the same. If none of these alternatives strike your fancy, then maybe…take a break from your phone and go outside for some fresh air.