What a tragic day for American pop culture as they bid farewell to TikTok, the golden child of short-form entertainment. And what a timely reminder that the Supreme Court is just a few days away from its weekly ‘guess and decide’ session. As President-elect Trump dithers on a ‘political resolution,’ let’s not forget, the ‘TikTok live’ feature is a whole new level of suspense we can’t afford to lose. Meanwhile, users are scrambling for alternatives, leading to a sudden influx of downloads on the U.S. app store, with Xiaohongshu, or ‘RedNote,’ taking the crown as the top free app. It’s not clear if this is a reflection of America’s newfound love for e-commerce or just a desperate attempt to avoid boredom. Lemon8, with its Instagram-Pinterest hybrid, is the new darling, despite the ominous shadow of divestment or shutdown. Instagram Reels? Just a watered-down version of TikTok, right? And what’s with YouTube trying to play catch-up with Shorts? It’s like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Snapchat, once the hipster’s choice for disappearing acts, now seems like yesterday’s news. Twitch? Well, it’s got live streaming, but it’s not quite the same, is it? And let’s not forget Clapper, the TikTok clone with a ‘free speech’ façade that’s now all about ‘community.’ The world of social media is a rollercoaster ride, and it’s not just users who are holding on for dear life.
Read from: https://www.wapt.com/article/tiktok-ban-social-media-alternatives/63433589