TikTok Ban and Black Creators: What You Need to Know

Much information has been thrown at the public about the recent ban of the popular application TikTok, causing an uproar from its users here in the US. There is a fear that TikTok could be potentially lost entirely, largely affecting creators and small business owners. Here are some things you need to know before the potential ban of TikTok.

The bill for the ban of TikTok was presented to the House of Representatives under the speculations of a National Security threat to its US users. Therefore, the bill forces the Chinese company Byte Dance, the owner of TikTok, to either sell the app or ban it in the US. This ultimatum is where the chaos arises. Byte Dance has stated they will not be selling their new successful tech application, TikTok, leaving open only one other option. This decision tied with President Biden’s strong alliance to the bill heightens the chances of the ban taking effect.              

Though everything may seem like it is moving extremely fast, there will be some time before users have to say goodbye to the beloved app. The bill allows Byte Dance six months to sell TikTok. If not able to sell the app by then, it will no longer be available to purchase from app stores, nor accessed through any US servers. Users that have the app will be able to access TikTok but will not be able to update the app, which will lead to greater malfunctions in the software, making it more difficult to use the app in the future. The bill will also still need to be passed by the Senate, and then signed by the president before TikTok becomes obsolete to the US.

 Anger and injustice have arisen from many of TikTok’s users and creators amidst the passing of the bill. Users and creators have expressed that the ban not only takes their right to expression away but takes their opportunities away as well. “The message I really want to get home to the American government and everybody that is trying to pass this bill is you will be destroying small businesses like us”, a small business owner proclaims in a TikTok video. These users and creators use TikTok to express themselves, advertise, and build their livelihoods. Taking this social platform away from these users will possibly destroy the relationships and audiences they have built.

In efforts to show the importance of the social media platform, users have created a hashtag #KeepTikTok. This hashtag is used by many of the users and creators to protect their livelihoods and community. #KeepTikTok allows these users and creators to keep the community alive and push for a change in the outcome of the bill. TikTok has created many opportunities and spaces of safety and relatability for its users and creators that cannot be replicated. The unpredictability of the future of TikTok leaves creators to wonder. What’s Next?

There is a lot going on with TikTok and its potential ban, but what does that mean for its Black creators? As a minority group, Black creators already struggle to gain the attention that other creators have. Therefore, lessening the number of users lessens the chances of Black creators growing larger audiences. The effects of the potential TikTok ban would detriment the livelihoods and futures of these Black creators that thrive on the social platform.

Many creators have jumped started their careers and small businesses on TikTok, giving a voice to the community and building new audiences. The social platform has spotlighted popular influencers such as Keith Lee, Jackie Aina, and Tabitha Brown that create unique spaces for its Black users. These popular creators are impactful to the growth of Black creatives on social platforms. Since Black creators struggle to find audiences as it is, banning TikTok will only make content creation more difficult. Banning TikTok will force these Black creators to move to other media platforms such as Instagram or YouTube, to try to keep their audience's attention. This could possibly be troubling for most as they will have to navigate a new platform and a possible new audience as well. Losing TikTok will leave Black creators questioning. How can I maintain or grow my social platform?

Black creators need to go back to the basics. The art of word of mouth has been lost. Collaborative efforts can go a long way in building larger social platforms. Going to local events, restaurants, and shops will grow a strong social presence and grows the name and brands of Black creators. Connecting and networking with the local small businesses and being present will allow Black creators to build a stronger community, essentially helping build their social platforms. Although difficulties may arise, with the power of community and networking, Black creators have a strong future in content creation and social representation.