Dave & Dujanovic: What happens if Tik Tok is banned?

SALT LAKE CITY—TikTok is set to be banned in the United States on Jan. 19th. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear from TikTok’s China-based owner, ByteDance, as the company argues to stop the ban before it goes into effect. 

If the ban remains in place, TikTok users won’t have to do anything, said KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas. The app will no longer be available in app stores. The user’s provider will remove the app from your phone.

Some of the concerns about the app revolve around whether the U.S. government has found evidence that TikTok is a national security threat. And whether the app is more threatening than other Chinese companies and products found in the U.S. 

Skordas said the concerns are valid. Another claim, that TikTok can impact the mindset and thought patterns of younger generations, is also valid.

“A lot of them are on it all day long. We’re learning, at least they say, the Chinese government is learning about what [young people] are thinking. They’re leaning one way or another, and that could influence the way the information is shared.”

Skordas said if an American bought ByteDance there wouldn’t be any issues. He said the government’s concern is a matter of who has access to that information. 

ByteDance has claimed that the Chinese government does not have access to data and that they wouldn’t share if asked. 

What happens to the influencer? The small businesses?

Maurissa Ashby is a Utah creator on Tik Tok. She makes her living off of the app. 

“As it gets closer, it’s scary to think of it being a possibility,” Ashby said. “But I think that’s why it’s important to diversify the platforms that you’re posting on.”

She uses Vine as an example of what can happen if a popular app disappears. 

“This happened with Vine and there are creators that thrived after Vine disappeared. Other creators kind of disappeared when it disappeared. So, I want to be one that thrives and I’m going to continue posting on other platforms and focus my attention on those [in case] anything were to happen with TikTok.”

For some creators, TikTok is their livlihood

What about the following that a TikTok creator has established? A comparison of Ashby’s followers finds that on TikTok @helloitsmaurissa has more than 50,000 followers. On Instagram, her following is closer to 3,000.  

Ruby Seering of Ruby’s Natural Essentials advertises on TikTok and Instagram. She said her success is more pronounced on TikTok. 

“I’ve done the videos exactly the same on TikTok and Instagram. I have like 100 followers on Instagram, and almost 1,000 now on TikTok … [one of my TikTok videos] has 3,0000 views and they’re the exact same video on both platforms.”

Seering said if the ban goes through, she’ll have to figure out other ways to advertise her business. 

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