As TikTok faces a potential ban, VPNs could be a way for users to keep accessing the app.
Unless something changes, like a last-minute sale or a Supreme Court decision, TikTok will likely disappear from app stores. Even if you have it, it might stop working.
Reports say TikTok plans to shut down its service for U.S. users soon. Apple and Google haven’t said much about their plans for the app stores.
Justas Palekas from IProyal.com explained that apps can track where users are connecting from. This means they can block access based on location.
But for those really wanting to keep using TikTok, VPNs could help. They work by routing your internet traffic through servers in other countries, making it seem like you’re somewhere else.
This method has been popular in places like China, where people use VPNs to bypass restrictions on U.S. sites. When India banned TikTok in 2020, VPN usage surged.
The VPN market was valued at nearly $38 billion in 2022. Lauren Hendry Parsons from ExpressVPN noted that demand spikes whenever access to platforms is limited.
While they don’t endorse TikTok, ProtonVPN highlighted the importance of VPNs for secure and unrestricted internet access.
Most VPNs charge a monthly fee, but some collect user data instead. Using a VPN can slow down your internet since your data has to go through another server.
It’s uncertain if VPNs will work if TikTok is banned. Parsons mentioned that it might not be clear until after the ban. TikTok could also find ways to block users trying to access it through VPNs.
In January 2025, content creators protested outside the Supreme Court against the potential TikTok ban.
VPNs have been around for a while, but their use is growing as more apps face bans. In 2023, nearly 1,500 apps were removed due to government requests, with many in China.
Now, the U.S. is looking to ban TikTok, which has 115 million users and was the second most downloaded app in 2024.
Parsons emphasized that as internet censorship increases, VPNs play a crucial role in maintaining online freedom.
