CHICAGO (WLS) — TikTok is expected to be banned on Sunday after the US Supreme Court decided to uphold the proposed law.
The devastation felt by the creators ABC7 spoke with on Friday is that TikTok is more than just an app. They said it provides community building around the world.
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Chicago-area users said this opportunity came about because of TikTok's unique algorithm, which allows everyone to be creative.
“My social media has always been just an extension of what's going on in my life,” said Chase Vondran, TikTok creator.
With more than 3.5 million likes on TikTok, Vondran, whose username is @explorewithchase, said it's more than just a social media app. It is a community and a family that may soon be lost.
“It's been really inspiring to hear from people saying, 'I took a solo trip because of you,' or more recently, you know, I came out of the closet,” Vondran said.
As a full-time content creator, Vondran said a large portion of her income comes from the app. For millions like them, this is how they provide for their families.
“It's just everyday moms,” TikTok creator Jessica Rowe said. “We just want to empower each other, and we are able to grow a following that has led to an income stream.”
Rowe, whose username is @thewindycitymama, said she started creating after losing her job during the pandemic.
“I've seen countless stories,” Rowe said. “Living paycheck to paycheck… suddenly our income was double.”
Related | The Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban days before the law went into effect
TikTok is run by a Chinese-owned company, and the US ban comes as concerns grow about national security.
Eric Nisbet, a professor of policy analysis at Northwestern University, said that while the Supreme Court was right to want to protect user data from hostile countries, the law itself is too narrow.
“This security concern is not limited to TikTok,” Nisbet said. “Our social media user data could be exploited by other hostile governments on other platforms.”
Many creators said the ban merely meant access to other China-based apps, such as RedNote.
“You have a whack-a-mole problem,” Nisbet said. “We have security concerns about this platform. A new platform is emerging.”
Read more | TikTok set to be banned on Sunday | Here's what it means for you
“We will continue to respond, and this is not acceptable,” Fondran said.
The hope for creatives is that the conversation will shift from politics to the people it affects.
“You always hope that one day, it might be like you're doing something for the benefit of people, not for your own pocket,” Rowe said.
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