Project that could ban TikTok in the US advances 5:04

(CNN) --

If you're a TikTok fan and worried about how you're going to stay connected to the world after a bill that could ban the app was passed in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.. .don't panic yet.

For those just catching up: US lawmakers renewed efforts to crack down on TikTok over national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

The bill would ban TikTok from US app stores unless the social media platform quickly separates itself from ByteDance.

The bill, called the Protecting Americans from Applications Controlled by Foreign Adversaries Act, emerged from the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week.

And on Wednesday it was approved in the House with 352 affirmative votes and only 65 representatives in disagreement.

• The House of Representatives approves a bill that could ban TikTok in the United States

Many of the approximately 170 million Americans who use the app have expressed concern that banning TikTok could mean eliminating a platform that represents much more than a platform where young people can follow the latest updates about the Princess of Wales.

It's where they go to find connection, be entertained, seek information, and make a living.

Some of those TikTokkers called their representatives in recent days to urge them to vote “no” on the bill, after the app alerted users about the possible ban.

There are other platforms available to TikTok users: Nearly every major social media company has spent the last few years trying to imitate the app's popular formula of short, snappy videos combined with a powerful recommendation algorithm that keeps users doing scroll.

However, moving a loyal audience from one platform to another is easier said than done.

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However, TikTok won't be disappearing from Americans' phones anytime soon.

The bill faces numerous obstacles to becoming law and will almost certainly face legal challenges if it succeeds.

And if the bill becomes law, the question remains whether an American buyer would step in to “save the day” (if ByteDance is willing to offload the popular platform).

Here's what you need to know if you're a TikTokker worried about the possible ban:

What are the chances of the bill becoming law?

Now that the bill has passed the House, it moves to the Senate, where it faces a more uncertain outcome.

One major hurdle: The bill is largely unpopular among TikTok users, many of whom are also young voters who could have a big influence on the 2024 US elections, something senators are well aware of.

Some TikTok users posted videos ahead of Wednesday's vote that showed them calling out their representatives and threatening to vote for alternative candidates if they voted to pass the bill.

"This process was secret and the bill was adjusted for a reason: it's a ban," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement after Wednesday's House vote.

"We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to its constituents and realize the impact on the economy, on the 7 million small businesses and on the 170 million Americans who use our service."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday refused to commit to bringing the TikTok bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

"The Senate will review the legislation when it comes from the House," he said.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin said Tuesday he has concerns about the constitutionality of the bill.

He added that passing the bill could have political consequences, including for US President Joe Biden, who has said he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk before the 2024 election. .

“Excluding a large group of young voters is not the most well-known strategy for re-election,” Durbin said.

That may be even more true after Biden's likely opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, said he opposed the TikTok ban, a shift from his stance as president.

Even if the bill managed to pass the Senate and become law, TikTok has signaled that it would likely challenge the legislation in court.

A similar state bill in Montana was put on hold pending a trial after TikTok claimed it violated the first amendment.

How would the law work?

If enacted, the bill would give TikTok about five months to separate itself from ByteDance, or else app stores in the United States would be prohibited from hosting the app on their platforms.

App stores that violate the legislation could be fined based on the number of users of a banned app.

The bill establishes fines of US$5,000 per user of a prohibited application.

So, in the case of TikTok, Apple and Google could be forced to receive fines of up to $850 billion each.

It is unknown whether ByteDance would agree to sell or spin off TikTok.

If it did, the company could struggle to find an American buyer willing to pay, despite the app's popularity.

TikTok is worth an estimated $100 billion, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

And many large American technology companies already face intense regulatory scrutiny that could prevent them from making such a major acquisition.

And while the law would ban TikTok from US app stores, removing the existing app from users' phones would present a more difficult task in practice for lawmakers seeking to block its use in the United States.

Additionally, virtual private network (VPN) services could make it possible for American users to bypass the TikTok ban by making it appear as if an American user is connected to the Internet from a different country.

Where else can TikTokkers go?

There is no shortage of alternative social media platforms where users can create or consume short-form videos.

YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and

Many TikTok users also say that transitioning a large TikTok audience to another platform is complicated.

And different platforms have different monetization schemes, which could mean challenges for creators looking to rebuild businesses that relied on TikTok if they are forced to move to another social network.

The US House of Representatives voted to advance legislation that would ban TikTok unless it is separated from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Will Lanzoni/CNN

TikTok's heavy emphasis on the "For You" page makes it much easier for brands to reach new audiences compared to other apps, TikTok creator and business owner Nadya Okamoto told CNN this week.

“[TikTok users] primarily watch content from people they don't necessarily follow.

And so as a business, that’s something unique,” ​​he said.

Despite that, some TikTokkers seem to be preparing for the worst.

Some users posted that they are working to follow their favorite creators on other platforms, others posted “farewell” videos in case the app is banned.

"If you're someone who makes money from social media, you now need to find a way to get your audience off this app... What are you going to do if there's a complete and total ban on TikTok?"

said a creator who goes by "Business with Sab," whose content focuses on growing an audience on TikTok, in a video posted to the platform last week.

"You need to find a way to get people on your email list."

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