With TikTok potentially disappearing in the US, creators on the app spent the week sending heartfelt farewell messages to their fans.
“I never thought in a million years that anyone would ever care about what I had to say,” Kimberly Rhodes, creator of the humorous videos, said. she told her 3 million followers Thursday. “If this app goes away, it's been a very nice ride.”
A day later, the Supreme Court 9-0 ruling to support The law would require the forced sale of TikTok by Chinese parent company ByteDance or the app to be banned in the United States. The short-form video app that has risen to mainstream popularity and changed the way Americans consume social media while stuck at home during the pandemic is set to go dark on Sunday, meaning it could disappear from the web and be removed from the app stores it runs. apple and Google.
Congress passed the law he signed President Joe Bidenciting national security concerns over TikTok's data collection practices and ties to China.
in Follow-up video On Friday, Rhodes sang about 30 seconds of “Taps,” the military song often played at funerals. She finished by saying, “It was an honor to make you laugh.”
The fate of Tik Tok In the United States it now lies in the hands of the president-elect Donald Trumpwho originally favored banning TikTok during his first administration, but has since reversed that order. In December, Trump he asked Supreme Court to Stop implementing the law and allowing his administration “the opportunity to pursue a political solution to the issues raised in this case.”
In a post Friday on the social media app Truth Social, Trump wrote: “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I should have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” CEO of TikTok Shu Qiu He is one of many technology leaders He is expected to be present During Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday. In a short video, Chiu thanked Trump “for his commitment to working with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available” in the United States.
Giovanna Gonzalez of Chicago demonstrates outside the US Capitol after a press conference held by TikTok creators to voice their opposition to the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Apps Act,” pending legislation to crack down on TikTok in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington. United States, March 12, 2024.
Craig Hudson | Reuters
Whether or not Trump eventually finds a way to keep the app alive for American consumers, many TikTok creators are preparing for the end, asking their fans to find them on other social platforms like YouTube and Google. dead Facebook, Instagram, and formerly CNBC I mentioned. rednotea Chinese social media app and Similar to TikTok, it rose to the top from Apple's App Store on Monday, suggesting that millions of TikTok users were looking for alternatives.
the Migration of creative people It appears to have gained strength as the ban deadline approaches. Influencers like Megan Cruz have used their farewell videos as an opportunity to promote TikTok properties.
“Anyone has the potential to be a leader.”
“People got into things like BookTok and FilmTok and the idea of engaging in culture on TikTok because you didn't have to be a big creator,” Cruz said. In the video Published earlier this week. “There was an incentive for people to join the conversation because anyone has the ability to be a leader in the conversation, to make a point that resonates with millions of people.”
TikTok's history as a viral sensation dates back to 2017, when ByteDance spent about $1 billion to acquire a startup called Musical.ly. ByteDance combined Musical.ly and TikTok the following year.
TikTok began making headway in the United States around that time, primarily as an app used by young people for short dance clips and lip-sync videos. TikTok's big break came during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, when consumers were looking for ways to pass time and connect with others online.
The app was so successful that internet giants Meta and Google launched copycat services. Meta introduced Reels to US Instagram users in August 2020 and then added it to Facebook. Google rolled out YouTube Shorts in the US in March 2021.
Despite the competition, TikTok has continued to grow.
TikTok has about 115 million monthly active users in the United States, compared with 258 million for YouTube, 253 million for Facebook, and 131 million for Instagram, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
Although TikTok lags behind its rivals in total users, the Chinese app has become a hub for creators, defined as users with more than 1,000 followers. TikTok has roughly 8.5 million users in the U.S. who fall into this category, compared to about 5.2 million on Instagram and 1.1 million on YouTube, according to HypeAuditor, an influencer marketing platform.
Internet advocacy group of businessman Frank McCourt Freedom Project On January 9, it announced that it had made an offer to buy TikTok from ByteDance on undisclosed terms. “I think we're the only bidder” that meets the criteria needed to separate the technology from the Chinese algorithm, McCourt told CNBC on Friday.
If ByteDance decides to sell, potential buyers could have to spend between $40 billion and $50 billion, depending on the valuation. appreciation TikTok's US operations from CFRA Senior Vice President of Research Angelo Zino.
Some creators anticipate the service will be shut down, and are telling their fans where to find them. Others encourage users to unfollow them on meta services, or encourage them to take a break from social media altogether.
“I've heard a lot of people say that once TikTok goes away, you're going to cut social media out of your life, and I encourage that — it's probably going to be really healthy for you,” Jack Ryan said. A content creator with 2 million followers on TikTok, In the video On Thursday, he thanks his fans for their support.
Ryan added: “I have an Instagram account. I have a huge following there, but don't follow me on Instagram.” “Don't go there. It's brain rot. It's disgusting.”
Jonas Jinden, who has more than 400,000 followers on TikTok, said in a video that a year and a half ago he was waiting tables while trying to become an actor in Los Angeles. He didn't have much luck.
After finding a fanbase on TikTok, Jinden said he was able to produce content full-time on the app.
“If we get cooked, it's been a ride, man,” Jinden said. “Anytime I see someone post something positive, it means the world, bro.”
He watches: NSA's Gerstel says it's up to Apple and Google if they want to keep TikTok in their app stores
