UPDATE: After going dark on Saturday, January 18 (ahead of the ban), TikTok is back online after President Trump promised to delay the ban. TikTok is currently working for users who have the app, but the app is unavailable for download. Stay tuned for more updates.
On Sunday, January 19th, 2025, the U.S. ban on TikTok and ByteDance is set to take effect.
For the majority of real estate agents, the news might raise some eyebrows, but it won’t ruin their day.
Different story, though, for the 1 in 6 agents who use TikTok as part of their marketing strategy. The ban will significantly disrupt their engagement on the platform, ultimately resulting in fewer social media-inspired conversations with potential clients.
Or it will if they don’t take action before the hammer falls.
With that in mind, The Broke Agent and Jason Cassity, along with guests Tessabella Jelten and Dan Oneil, discussed the ban in this week’s Walk Thru, covering everything agents should do before Sunday to minimize that disruption and its impact on their business.
We’re also looking into the possibility that President-elect Trump might delay the ban—or prevent it completely—as TikTok CEO Shou Chew prepares to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The latest news has the Supreme Court deciding this morning to uphold the ban, while the Biden administration has decided to leave enforcement of the ban up to Trump.
Let’s get into it.
2 Things Agents Should Do Before the TikTok Ban
If you are worried about losing TikTok, take time before Sunday to do the following:
1. Download all your videos and data from TikTok
It’s easy to download your TikTok videos, and an app like Repost+ even allows you to download them without the TikTok watermark, which is a good idea if your plan is to share those videos on other platforms.
To download videos one by one:
Step 1: Open the TikTok Video
Find the video you want to save, then tap the arrow-shaped Share button in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 2: Tap “Save Video”
A row of gray icons will appear at the bottom. Hit the one that says Save Video to start the process.
Step 3: Share or Save
Once TikTok processes the video, you’ll see sharing options:
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Email: Send it to yourself as an attachment.
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Cloud Storage: Upload it to Google Drive or similar services.
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Save Locally: Swipe to the end of the Share To options and tap More to find additional choices. This will allow you to save directly to your device.
To download videos in bulk:
While you can download each video one by one, there’s also a way to download your videos in bulk—though in a somewhat roundabout way—using a free Chrome extension.
Step 1: Set Up a Burner TikTok Account
- Create a second TikTok account, also known as a “burner” account.
- This account will follow your original account (the one with all your videos).
- If you encounter any issues creating a second account, you can borrow a friend’s account or ask them to help download your videos.
Step 2: Install the myfaveTT Chrome Extension
- Open the Chrome Web Store and search for myfaveTT.
- Download and install the extension, granting it the necessary file access permissions.
Step 3: Link and Activate myfaveTT
- Log into your burner TikTok account on the web and follow your original account.
- Click the myfaveTT icon in your Chrome extensions list. If you don’t see it, click the folder-shaped extensions icon in the top-right corner of your browser to find and activate it.
- Refresh your TikTok page, and the myfaveTT sidebar should appear on the left side of the screen.
Step 4: Configure the Download
- In the myfaveTT sidebar, choose to download videos from accounts your burner account follows.
- Ensure your original account is the only one selected.
- Select or create a folder to save the downloaded videos.
Step 5: Download Your Videos
- Click Next to start the download. The app will retrieve and save all videos from your original account.
- The process duration will depend on the number of videos you’re downloading.
- Once complete, find your MP4 videos in the designated folder under data > Following > [number] > videos.
An important caveat to include here, of course, is that this will not remove the TikTok watermark from the videos before downloading them. To do that, you’ll need an app like Repost+, which you can use to download either your own videos—one link at a time—or someone else’s. .
According to Reuters, those who wait until the ban goes into effect will find, when they open the app, a message about the law and an offer to download their personal data. But at that point, the window of opportunity to recover your video content will most likely be closed.
2. Share a video on TikTok to let people know where to follow you
Whether you’re sending people to Instagram, X, or LinkedIn, you want your audience to know where to find you if TikTok is no longer a viable option.
So, before the app goes dark, get the word out to the folks who love your content.
In the same vein, you can also publish posts on your other platforms welcoming your TikTok followers and inviting them to engage with the post—possibly in exchange for a free, downloadable welcome gift.
How will the ban affect ride-or-die TikTok users?
The TikTok ban won’t require users to delete the app, but it will remove it from U.S. servers like the App Store and Google Play. For the real estate professionals who rely on TikTok for short-form video marketing, here’s what you need to know.
Why TikTok Will Stop Working
- Removal from App Stores: Apple and Google will be barred from distributing TikTok in the U.S. This means no new downloads or updates to fix bugs.
- Service Shutdown: TikTok plans to go offline in the U.S., displaying a message about the ban and offering users the option to download their personal data.
- Operational Breakdown: TikTok depends on over 100 service providers, including Oracle, which hosts U.S. user data. If these providers are forced to disengage, the app won’t be able to deliver new videos or upload content.
Workarounds Aren’t Easy
- VPNs and Geolocation: A VPN might conceal a user’s location, but TikTok can still track geolocation data from phones, limiting access.
- Switching Country Settings: Changing an iPhone’s region to download TikTok requires canceling subscriptions, setting up new payment methods, and possibly leaving the U.S.
What This Means for Real Estate Marketers on TikTok
For agents who rely on TikTok to showcase property tours or build their personal brand, the upcoming ban could wipe out a key marketing tool.
Switching to alternatives like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts might be an option, but it’s going to take swift action to redirect your audience. Losing TikTok could force marketers to rethink their entire strategy and find new ways to stay visible.
Could President-elect Trump Stop the Ban?
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is heading to Washington for Donald Trump’s inauguration, just as the clock ticks down on a looming U.S. ban of the platform. With the ban set to take effect the day before Trump takes office, his team is already exploring ways to delay or block it altogether.
The ban, stemming from a U.S. law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations, would sever the app from millions of American users.
While the Supreme Court has signaled its support for the law, Trump’s advisers are crafting a strategy to buy time—or strike a deal.
Trump’s Options to Save TikTok
Sources close to the transition say Trump’s team is weighing several moves:
- Executive Order: Trump could sign an order on Day 1 to delay the ban’s enforcement by 60 to 90 days, creating space for negotiations.
- Strategic Deal: Trump’s National Security Council pick, Rep. Mike Waltz, hinted at a potential deal, calling Trump “a dealmaker.”
Timing may work in Trump’s favor. Since the ban takes effect on a holiday weekend, immediate enforcement is unlikely, leaving room for action once Trump assumes office.
A High-Stakes Transition
Biden Administration officials are saying the White House lacks the authority to delay the ban. But according to this news reel by Morning Brew, they’re not thrilled about TikTok going dark on the last day of Biden’s presidency.
Meanwhile, Chew’s presence at Trump’s inauguration is a clear sign of his hope that the newly-elected president will find a way to keep TikTok in the U.S.
Chinese officials have floated a potential compromise—allowing a trusted non-Chinese investor, like Elon Musk, to take control of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
For Trump, TikTok isn’t just an app; it’s a tool for connecting with younger voters. Whether he can turn this into a win remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: the fight to save TikTok is far from over.
