‘Keep TikTok’: US citizens react to looming ban, impact on creators

As the United States debates the future of TikTok, millions of users and creators have spoken out, highlighting how the platform has transformed their lives and livelihoods. 

For many, TikTok is more than just an app but a source of income, a creative outlet, and a community.

Joanne Molinaro, a former corporate litigator, is one such individual whose life took a dramatic turn because of TikTok. After spending over a decade in a demanding legal career, she found herself unfulfilled.

“I was thinking to myself … lucky me to have this job that pays my bills,” Molinaro said during an interview with CNN’s Terms of Service podcast.  “And so what if it’s soul-sucking and it makes me want to curl up at night into fetal position and cry? That’s okay because this is what adults do.”

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Molinaro downloaded TikTok for entertainment and began sharing her own cooking videos.

One of her videos went viral, leading her to build an impressive following of over 3 million across TikTok and Instagram. She eventually left her law firm partnership to become a full-time content creator, publishing a cookbook titled The Korean Vegan and earning a six-figure income.

Now, like many others, Molinaro faces an uncertain future as the potential TikTok ban looms.

US law is currently requiring TikTok to spin off from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban is set to take effect.

The US government argues the app poses a national security threat due to concerns about data collection and potential manipulation by the Chinese government. 

“TikTok collects vast swaths of data about tens of millions of Americans, which the People’s Republic of China could use for espionage or blackmail,” the US Justice Department stated in a legal filing. “And the PRC could covertly manipulate the platform to advance its geopolitical interests and harm the United States.”

For creators like Molinaro, the stakes are deeply personal. She estimates her income from sponsorships dropped by 30% in 2024 due to uncertainty around the platform.

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“Those brands are not willing to spend dollars right now because they’re terrified. ‘Oh, why would I spend money on a campaign that’s going to just fall flat on its face in a few days?’” she said.

Other creators echo these concerns. Eli Rallo, who began using TikTok in 2020, has built a career as a social media influencer with over 1 million followers.

“My career just simply would not be where it is today without TikTok,” Rallo said, adding that a ban could significantly affect her financial situation. 

“I’m very concerned, if I’m being honest, about what would happen because I do think my financial situation would change,” she said.

Experts note that TikTok’s algorithm, which allows creators to rapidly grow their audience, has been a game-changer. Jess Maddox, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama who studies social media, explained, “It’s not the same technology. It’s not the same type of user. It’s not the same culture.”

While some creators are diversifying their revenue streams and exploring other platforms, many worry about the long-term consequences. TikTok estimates that a ban could cost US small businesses $1 billion in revenue and creators $300 million in earnings in just one month.

“Many people think, oh, a TikTok ban is going to mean these glamorous, frivolous influencers are going to have to get real jobs,” Maddox said.

“But the reality is the people who are going to be most hurt by a TikTok ban are those staunchly middle-class Americans who are using this for information, for entertainment, to grow their business, their following, and grow their community.”

As the debate continues, creators and users alike are urging lawmakers to reconsider, emphasizing what “keeping TikTok” truly means for millions of Americans.

(CNN)

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE