TikTok Creators React to Potential US Ban: What’s Next for the App?
TikTok creators across the U.S. expressed shock and anxiety on Friday after a federal court upheld a new law that could lead to the app being banned by January 2025. With over 170 million users in the U.S., TikTok has become a critical platform for content creators, small businesses, and everyday users. The ruling has left many wondering: Is TikTok really going to be banned?
Creators Speak Out Against Potential Ban
Katie Wolf, a 38-year-old book editor from Charleston, South Carolina, shared her distress with her followers in a video: "I’m, like, shaking — I’m so mad, I’m so anxious, because TikTok changed my life." Wolf, who finds 80% of her clients through TikTok, is uncertain what her future holds without the app.
Comedian Alex Pearlman from Philadelphia also voiced his concerns: “We don’t know what’s going to stay monetized, and we don’t know how TikTok Shops are going to work. We’ve got 44 days until this app goes.”
Nicole Brennan, an artist and content creator from New York City, echoed this sentiment, urging her 450,000 followers to follow her on alternative platforms like Instagram and Bluesky. "It’s for real this time, guys," she said, holding a bagel in her video, reflecting the shock many creators are feeling.
Why TikTok Is So Important for Creators
For many creators, TikTok is not just a platform for entertainment—it’s a source of income and a way to reach an engaged, global audience. Brennan, for example, estimates that more than half of her income comes from TikTok through sales, sponsorships, and its monetization programs.
Aaron Parnas, a lawyer with 1.2 million followers, noted that TikTok's ability to help creators go viral is unmatched. "I don’t think there’s any other app that allows anyone to go viral at any moment," he said. TikTok's algorithm, which customizes feeds based on user interests, has made it the go-to platform for short-form video content, leaving many creators worried about what comes next.
The Legal Battle: TikTok Faces Ban in the US
On Friday, a U.S. appeals court panel upheld a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company by January 19, 2025, or face a ban in the U.S. The decision follows growing national security concerns over TikTok’s data collection practices, especially regarding its ties to China.
TikTok has argued that the law unfairly targets the app and infringes on Americans' free speech rights. However, the judges ruled that the law was crafted specifically to address national security risks posed by foreign adversaries, and it does not violate the First Amendment. They acknowledged the negative impact a ban would have on users, but ultimately sided with security concerns.
How Creators Are Preparing for a Potential Ban
As the deadline approaches, many TikTok creators are exploring alternative platforms to protect their livelihoods. Steve Natto, a sneaker content creator in Philadelphia, posts regularly across eight different platforms. However, TikTok remains his largest audience, and he expressed concern about losing access to such a vast and engaged community. "There’s just so many viewers and eyes on TikTok that I wouldn’t want it to go away," he said.
Comedian Alex Pearlman, who has 2.7 million TikTok followers, has started building his presence on Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram. Despite gaining thousands of followers on these platforms, Pearlman remains worried about losing TikTok’s unique algorithm, which has been key to his success.
The Impact on Small Businesses and Content Creators
For small businesses, TikTok has proven to be an invaluable marketing tool. Keenya Kelly, a content strategist and creator, believes a TikTok ban would severely disrupt small businesses that depend on the app to reach new customers. "I don’t think TikTok will be completely banned, but they might be forced to make changes," she said.
TikTok’s unique algorithm has also been a game-changer for artists like Nicole Brennan, who have used the platform to sell their products and grow their customer base. Without TikTok, creators and small businesses would face significant challenges in reaching their target audiences.
What’s Next for TikTok?
Despite the court ruling, TikTok is not giving up. The company plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping for a delay in the January 2025 deadline. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, TikTok may be able to avoid the ban temporarily.
Some, like former President Donald Trump, have suggested that they would prefer to find a way to keep TikTok in the U.S. Trump has even stated in a video that he "would never ban TikTok," but it’s unclear if he could do anything to reverse the decision once he takes office in 2025.
What Users Are Saying
As news of the ruling spread, TikTok users had mixed reactions. Some are hopeful that the ban won’t happen, given TikTok’s massive role in the creator economy. Carrie Berk, a lifestyle content creator, expressed her skepticism: "There has been much discussion about TikTok being banned since 2020, and nothing has happened yet, so I’m skeptical."
Others, like Keenya Kelly, are more optimistic, believing that TikTok will be forced to make changes but won’t be fully banned. "Millions of small U.S. businesses rely on TikTok, and I don’t think they will let that go," Kelly said.
Final Thoughts: The Future of TikTok in the U.S.
As TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S., creators, users, and businesses are anxiously awaiting what comes next. While the app’s future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: TikTok has become an integral part of the digital landscape, and its impact on creators and the broader economy cannot be underestimated.
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