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Comment by schroeding | Hacker News Reader

Use a VPN and download the british / european version of the app? US legislation will probably not be enforced in the rest of the world, in the case of TikTok.

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Using a VPN is a HUGE barrier for the general public, esp. considering that TikToks biggest selling point is quick and easy tailored videos. Having to pay for a VPN and activating it just to watch a few TikToks means barely any non-tech people use it. Ergo, the network effect dies down dramatically.

The general public, sure, but young adults and teenagers? Aren't they already getting sponsors for e.g. NordVPN pushed down their throats regularly?

"This video is sponsored by NordVPN! NordVPN can help you stay secure and get back access to the social media content you love - when you want, how long you want. Check out the link in the description to get 10% off using code INFLUENCERNAME" doesn't seem very outlandish, IMO.

Those VPNs are also more or less fire and forget - download the app from the app store, pay, accept the OS modal, done.

I agree that fewer people will use those apps after such regulation, but I also think that a very substantial part of the (young) userbase will do their best to circumvent the regulations, because they like social media and TikTok very much. Not the best comparison, I know, but: When Epic Games only provided the game Fortnite as a direct APK download for Android, it also didn't stop kids and young adults from downloading it en masse, even though most probably never sideloaded an app before.

Unless you plan on sideloading it, the two major app-stores are both controlled by American companies. Either way, whether you're sideloading or using a VPN, requiring users to jump through such hoops will easily kill the mainstream use of any social media company.

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