TikTok Ban Will Be Social Media’s First Extinction Level Event

The attorney general of the Biden administration, Elizabeth B. Prelogar, insisted that Congress has the right to impose a ban, saying that the Chinese government can spy on Americans, in addition to their contacts, through TikTok. “It’s about trying to close vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries can exploit,” he said. Outside the courtroom, dozens of TikTok users gathered in support of the app. Due to a January 19 deadline, the court will make a decision next week—one that could have lasting consequences for the future of social media for creators. If it takes effect, it remains unclear if, or how, President-elect Trump will implement the ban once in office. “I don’t think people understand that this is how I keep a roof over my head. It’s like people who say that your company will take off and you can’t control it. original minute-long content. Between the brand partnerships and the money made through the program, Dunn, who is 30 years old, told me that he averages several “five figures a month” in 2024. they are screaming about, “he said. TikTok Shop, the app’s e-commerce feature, was a gamechanger for small business owners when it debuted in September 2023. After navigating through some initial hiccups—which included, of all things, snail slime—TikTok Shop proved formidable; The app’s surge in vendors outpaces competitors like Amazon, which TikTok ultimately wants to replace (or at least dethrone). Beauty products and women’s clothing are often the best-selling items on the platform. According to Shopify, by 2023 12 percent of TikTok Stores will be based in the US, with 45 percent of Americans already making purchases through the TikTok Store. By 2023, daily sales in the US will exceed $7 million. Renee McClintock, a 29-year-old mother, is one of the more resilient entrepreneurs on the app. You name it, they’ve sold it: electrolyte packs, cotton candy machines, iPhone cases, blue jeans, vaginal probiotic gum. Last summer, a video detailing his week’s earnings — $4,764.63 — went viral. McClintock declined to speak to me for this story—he only does paid collaborations, starting at $150, he wrote in an email—but noted that since July, through his affiliate program, his gross merchandise volume (GMV) is $600,000.TikTok is not the only platform that allows creators to make a profit, but seems to be an exception to the rule. YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch all provide multiple avenues for users to make money, either through ads or affiliate links. But none of them have TikTok, says Jon Selman, vice president of influencer marketing at BenLabs, an agency whose clients include influencers Colin Keys, Savagemomlife, and Amaury Guichon.

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