The U.S. moves closer to a potential TikTok ban as the Supreme Court upholds a law halting new downloads of the app starting Sunday. However, questions remain about how the ban will be enforced and its implications, leaving millions of users, including content creators and small business owners, in limbo.
Comedian and influencer Terrell Wade, with 1.5 million TikTok followers, describes the looming ban as a source of chaos and uncertainty. “I really don’t know what to believe,” he said. The ruling demands TikTok’s China-based parent company sell the platform before Jan. 19, citing national security concerns, but a sale appears unlikely before the deadline.
Biden declines to enforce TikTok ban, leaves decision to Trump
The Biden administration, while maintaining the need for a sale, indicated it wouldn’t enforce the ban immediately, leaving the task to President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to preserve access to TikTok. However, Trump’s approach after his inauguration remains unclear.
If implemented, the ban will stop new downloads and updates, rendering the app eventually unusable, though it won’t vanish from existing devices immediately. For many creators, this prospect threatens livelihoods and forces them to adapt to other platforms.
Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, notes the ban is a stark reminder that social media platforms can rise and fall, disrupting the lives of influencers and businesses reliant on them.
Los Angeles-based content creator Janette Ok says TikTok is central to her work, helping her secure brand deals and promote her art. The app, she says, has been life-changing. “It’s a beautiful app that’s brought people together,” she said, calling the ban disheartening and “un-American.”
Small business owners share similar fears. Jordan Smith, owner of The Elevated Closet in Austin, Texas, and Alejandro Flores-Munoz, a Denver-based caterer, credit TikTok for finding niche audiences and growing their businesses. Losing the platform, they say, will have a significant impact on their operations.
Ruben Trujillo, who markets coffee-themed cards through TikTok, is frustrated with the shifting political dynamics. “Small business owners are told to be creative and build from the ground up, and now it feels like those opportunities are being taken away,” he said.
As Sunday’s deadline looms, users like Wade and Ok remain hopeful for a last-minute reprieve, though uncertainty continues to overshadow the future of TikTok in the U.S.