TikTok Ban: A Looming Reality
The U.S. is inching closer and closer to a potential TikTok ban — with the nation's highest court upholding a law that's set to halt new downloads of the app starting Sunday.
But many questions around what exactly this ban will look like, and whether it will actually be enforced, remain.
The Impact on Users
That puts millions of users and content creators in limbo — particularly influencers and small business owners who have come to rely on the mega-popular social media platform as a source of income.
Among those individuals is Terrell Wade, a comedian, actor and content creator with 1.5 million followers on TikTok under the handle @TheWadeEmpire.
"At this point, I really don’t know what to believe," Wade told The Associated Press.
He is not alone in his confusion. Many users are worried about the potential loss of their platform and the impact it will have on their businesses and livelihoods.
The Road to a Ban
TikTok has been under scrutiny for months, with concerns over its ties to China and allegations that it collects sensitive user data.
But despite these concerns, the app has become an integral part of many people's lives.
Janette Ok, a full-time content creator based in Los Angeles, says TikTok is the primary platform she uses today. As an influencer and also an artist, she says the platform has helped her make brand deals and promote her music — bringing “opportunities that I never believed I could experience in my lifetime.”
The Frustration and Confusion
Ok was among influencers who TikTok brought to Washington in 2023 to lobby for the preservation of the app, and remembers a ban being discussed as far back as 2020.
"I hear all these different things, and I don’t know what to believe — so that’s where I’m very frustrated. I’m confused. I’m disappointed," Ok said.
"It’s a beautiful app, it’s brought so many people together, it’s changed a lot of people’s lives, and for it to just be taken away like that feels ... so not American.”
The Businesses Affected
Jordan Smith, a former WNBA player who operates The Elevated Closet in Austin, Texas — a clothing brand for tall women — depends on TikTok and TikTok Shop to find customers that fit her niche demographic.
"On TikTok I’ve just been able to find that audience so much easier," she said.
The Future of TikTok
Alejandro Flores-Munoz owns a catering business in the Denver area called Combi Taco, or @combicafe on TikTok. TikTok helped him reach customers without spending money on marketing, he said.
"Up until today, I was extremely optimistic. And after today’s Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban or the sale of TikTok, I weigh my options,” he said.
Conclusion
The U.S. is on the cusp of a potential TikTok ban, with the nation's highest court upholding a law that's set to halt new downloads of the app starting Sunday.
But despite the uncertainty, one thing is clear: millions of users and content creators are worried about the impact it will have on their businesses and livelihoods.