In just a few days, Americans will lose a social media platform they hold dear. Unless the Supreme Court acts soon, it is likely that Tiktok, a platform used by more than 170 million Americans nationwide, will be banned.
With that ban will come a disruption of millions of people’s content. Whether you’re a teenager aimlessly scrolling through videos or a business owner using TikTok to advertise and sell your products, you will see real changes due to this ban.
We’ll all feel the pain of the TikTok ban, some more than others. Get ready, because…
4 | Where You Get News Will Change…
Americans were using TikTok for more than just dancing videos. For many, it was a primary source of news and information in an ever-changing world. TikTok’s algorithm can identify trending issues and topics and put them in front of an audience that is more than willing to learn. Even better, it was able to show a slew of dialogue from creators from across the political spectrum who were all acting as defacto commentators on those very issues – amassing sizable followings in the process.
That, coupled with years of lower and lower viewership of traditional news media meant that for many logging onto TikTok was how they stayed plugged into the world around them. With the ban, many Americans are likely to feel lost in a crowded digital space. Where they might go next to get the updates and information they crave is anyone’s guess, but this will be a real disruption for millions that will make many people less informed (at least in the short term) on critical issues that make a difference in their lives.
Maybe we’ll see a resurgence in traditional news outlets. Maybe users flock to other platforms like Facebook. No matter the outcome though for news consumption, many businesses will have other issues on their mind.
That’s because…
3 | Businesses Are Losing a Vital Platform…
Thousands of businesses use TikTok every day to market and sell their products. The ban will disrupt their operations and cost them millions of dollars collectively in lost revenue. Some businesses may cease to exist entirely. They’re staring down the ban as a moment of crisis for their bottom line.
TikTok opened the doors for creative businesses to break through the noise with viral content that would put their products in front of millions. For small businesses, the platform gave them a chance to strike gold. For struggling local businesses, one good TiktTok might put them on the map in their local communities. The advent of the TikTok shop made this easier as countless vendors sold their products directly to willing customers through the app itself.
Billions of dollars are on the line with this ban, and with it the livelihoods of countless businesses who have seen success due to the platform. They won’t be the only ones losing real opportunities…
2 | Campaigns Are Losing An Engagement Opportunity…
If you work in politics or are getting a campaign started, you’re about to lose a platform where you can speak your mind and build a real following around your movement.
There’s a reason why many political figures, even some of those who voted for the Tiktok ban itself, chose to flock to the app and discuss their ideas: TikTok has an unparalleled ability to spread their message far and wide when the messaging is done right. Everyone from City Councillors to Congresspeople was able to amass sizable followings and build their movements in the process – saying nothing of their personal brands. The free flow of information so many came to love was a campaign’s best asset.
Now, countless political leaders and their social media managers are staring at the end of a platform they benefited directly from. At the end of the day, the ban will impact their ability to spread their ideas and change the minds of countless people. They’re not the only ones.
That’s because at the end of the day…
1 | We’re All A Little Less Free…
The TikTok ban, whether you like the app or not, sets a chilling precedent for further crackdowns and bans of other companies and platforms in the future. For TikTok’s millions of users, this also really does feel like an attack on their free speech.
As I said, TikTok is a major source of news and information, but it goes further than that. TikTok is also a hub for dialogue, education, and discourse. It gives every one of its users the chance to speak their minds and engage with an audience that many of them may have never been exposed to. Countless creators have built massive platforms sometimes totaling in the hundreds of thousands if not millions by giving their opinions and spins on the news they’re seeing. They’ve made a real impact, educating millions. Now, that is about to come to an end.
People really do feel like their voices, along with the platforms they’ve built using them, are being stifled. Honestly, it’s difficult to see how they’re wrong. For those who have found a community on the platform, the impact is even greater. TikTok has brought countless people together and helped many get through difficult times in life, find people they can talk to and engage with, and ultimately build a community where they can feel safe and heard. A ban on TikTok means an end to that, and as many are already saying, alternative platforms like Instagram or Facebook just don’t cut it.
Ultimately, this is a ban that will have wide-reaching effects. Only time will tell if it happens.
So – What are your thoughts on the TikTok ban? Do you hope it’s overturned?
Sound off below!
