Share this @internewscast.com

Many concerned TikTok creators on Wednesday condemned the House passage of a potential TikTok ban in the U.S., calling it a threat to people’s livelihoods and freedom of speech.

“Before you go jump to conclusions and go ‘Boohoo a 25-year-old dancing with a shampoo bottle’s gotta get a real job,’ being an influencer is a fraction of what income is created on these apps,” TikTok creator Freddie Smith, an Orlando, Florida-based realtor with 530,000 followers, said in a video.

“There are so many important things happening on this app,” he said, after listing a wide array of people who use the app, ranging from service-based businesses to video editors. “And I’m waiting to hear Congress talk about how this would take away millions of jobs.”

Smith’s video was among dozens uploaded to the platform after the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act’’ passed in the House of Representatives. If the Senate passes the bill and President Joe Biden signs it into law, TikTok would have six months to divest from ByteDance and be acquired by a U.S. company. 

Read more of our coverage on a potential U.S. TikTok ban:

But the bill wouldn’t immediately affect other apps owned by foreign entities, including other Chinese apps that purportedly pose risks to Americans. It also wouldn’t stop American social media companies from selling user data to foreign entities or third-party data brokers. 

V. Spehar, known to their 3.1 million followers on TikTok as Under The Desk News, expressed concern that antitrust laws could prevent major American social media companies from buying TikTok, leaving an unrealistic timeline for the platform to find a buyer and transfer its data to them.

“If they can’t do it in that timeline, then they wouldn’t have access to the app anymore to update it,” Spehar said in a TikTok video. “So Congress is effectively banning the app by breaking it.”

Spehar, who has become known for delivering the news in a short, digestible way, was among the roughly 20 creators invited to the White House in September 2022 as part of the Biden administration’s celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act. They also attended a rally in March 2023 in Washington, D.C., where dozens of creators called on lawmakers to “keep TikTok.”

One year later, creators are still echoing their plea to keep the app alive. Several creators and small business owners have made videos using the #KeepTikTok hashtag to urge against a potential ban. Numerous creators have publicly expressed their fears about what would happen to their audiences.

Jonathan Chanti, president of Viral Nation Talent, said that most creators understand the importance of diversifying their content and ensuring they have a multiplatform presence. The threat of a ban could be a “wake-up call” for some.

“I would say to aspiring creators, ‘Don’t be intimidated by any potential challenges that may come,’” Chanti said. “Instead, just continue to invest in your content on YouTube Shorts and on Meta, and with Instagram and on Snapchat. There’s fortunately multiple avenues to create amazing awareness with audiences.” 

But some online echoed Smith, the Florida realtor, pointing out that creators aren’t the only ones who would be impacted by the legislation. The platform itself has previously stated it is “driving real economic growth and job creation in communities across the U.S.”

“We’re talking about actively hurting a section of the U.S. economy,” Lucas, a comedian with 131,000 followers, said in a TikTok video. “I’ve seen mom and pop shops go from chapter 11 to thriving because of the people and content that TikTok has platformed.”

Lucas was also among some TikTokers who worried that the bill could lead to first-person perspectives being censored. He said he’s “learned more about world and local news from first-hand perspectives of those being affected from the videos they produce on this app, just in the past year, than I have from every other form of media put together in the past year.”

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a TikTok video on Wednesday that he voted “no” on the ban, despite having some concerns about the app, because he believes it’s “un-American” to ban free speech.

“Banning free speech because we’re afraid of something is just the most un-American thing we could do,” he said in a video. “I do have issues with how TikTok is controlled, but at the same time it’s very weird for me as an American to ban other Americans from any platform that gives speech, whether I agree with the speech or not.”

Before the bill heads to the Senate, a handful of creators encouraged their followers to call lawmakers and ask them to vote against the bill. 

Noah Glenn Carter, who has built a TikTok following of 8.7 million for his videos explaining online drama and internet news, said small businesses rely on the platform to reach customers. 

“If this TikTok ban does go through, it’s going to be very bad for the American people,” he said. “As there are over 170 million Americans that use TikTok and 7 million small businesses that use it to make a living,” Carter said, citing statistics that TikTok has touted in its response to the legislation. 

He told his followers if they want “a small say in whether or not TikTok does get banned,” they should call or email their senators.

Meanwhile, Chris Olsen, who rose to fame on the app with his personal videos in 2020, encouraged users to remain engaged with the issue, despite “alarmist” videos framing the bill as an immediate ban.

“There is time,” Olsen, who has 3.9 million followers on TikTok, said in a video. “…but it is still important to pay attention to the news and what’s happening, and call your representatives to try to stop this from happening.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Illegal immigrant convicted of shooting at small-town officer in high-speed chase

Undocumented Immigrant Found Guilty of Firing at Rural Police Officer During High-Speed Pursuit

A small-town traffic stop turned into a deadly confrontation when an illegal…
Soldier walking past Patriot air defense systems at a military hub.

Russia Claims Trump is ‘Backing Terrorists’ Following US Decision to Send Weapons and Patriots to Ukraine Through NATO

RUSSIA has lashed out at Donald Trump after the US president agreed…
Mugshot of a man in a yellow shirt.

Justin Mohn Convicted of Murdering Father and Posting Disturbing Video Online

A SICK man who slashed his dad’s head with a machete and…
DHS arrests five illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes, including murder and child abuse

DHS captures five undocumented individuals previously found guilty of severe offenses such as murder and child abuse

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security reported the detention of five…
Ohio boy crawls into claw machine, gets stuck, rescued with pride bruised but unharmed

Ohio Child Rescued Unscathed After Getting Stuck in Claw Machine

A young boy in Ohio got himself into a tight spot after…
Trump wants mass deportations, but US views of immigration are more positive since he took office

Trump Advocates for Mass Deportations, Yet American Opinions on Immigration Have Grown More Favorable Since His Presidency

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mere months after President Donald Trump’s return to office…
Photo of Carolina Wilga at a petrol station.

Backpacker Carolina Winger, 26, Found Alive After Nearly Two Weeks Lost in Australian Wilderness

A GERMAN backpacker missing for nearly two weeks in the remote Australian…
Chicago's 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. wants son to replace him in City Council after retirement, drawing criticism

Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. faces backlash for proposing his son as successor in City Council’s 27th Ward after retirement

The longest-tenured member of the Chicago City Council is stepping down at…
Airport security subdues a disruptive passenger.

Dramatic Scene: Woman Throws Temper Tantrum at Airport, Screams at Police Before Being Arrested

THIS is the shocking moment a furious passenger had a full-blown foot-stomping…
Striking Birmingham refuse collectors on picket line.

Angela Rayner Suspended by Labour Union Amid Bin Strike Turmoil; Group to Reevaluate Party Relations

ANGELA Rayner has been suspended by Labour union Unite over the Birmingham…
Photo of a man and his granddaughter.

Granddaughter’s Desperate Appeal After Grandfather Disappears Following 8,000-Mile Journey for Her Graduation

A grandfather vanished just a day after undertaking a journey of over…
Hochul defends handling of sexual harassment, toxic workplace complaints against ex-press secretary

Governor Hochul Addresses Allegations of a Hostile Environment and Misconduct by Former Press Secretary

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul is standing by her administration’s response to…