Triller could be the app to watch if US TikTok ban goes ahead – some social media stars say they are already on board
- Musicians and record labels use Triller because it gives them another way to reach young fans online and promote new tracks, particularly hip-hop
- With TikTok’s future in the US in doubt, influencers like Marlene Mendez, who has more than 500,000 TikTok followers, see Triller as a potential alternative
It was the moment the Hollywood start-up had been waiting for.
“We are absolutely positioned to be a replacement for TikTok if they do get banned,” said Triller CEO Mike Lu, hours before the executive order was issued. “Out of everyone in this space, we are the most adaptable … and grounded one in terms of being TikTok’s successor.”
A competitor for China-based tech company ByteDance’s TikTok. Triller saw its popularity surge before Trump set a clock on TikTok’s operations in the US – it became the No 1 downloaded iPhone app in the US on August 1.
06:35
US demands for TikTok may escalate decoupling and hurt businesses, says China expert
It hit that milestone one day after Trump first floated the notion of a TikTok ban, and four days after some of TikTok’s best known stars said they would make Triller their new home.
TikTok said it was shocked by Trump’s order – which would bar ByteDance from conducting business transactions with other American companies from September 20 – and would explore all of its options.