HARRISBURG (TNS) — TikTok is used by over 170 million Americans. The social media platform, known for its short, trendy videos, has allowed many of those users to become a part of the world of content creation, allowing them to establish communities and make money through the app.
There’s a chance those videos — at least on this platform — could be going away.
Earlier this month, a congressional bill was put forth that aims to ban the popular social media app in the United States because of privacy issues. The app is owned by China-based company ByteDance.
Government leaders’ primary concern is the potential for the Chinese government to use TikTok to spy on U.S. elections and what they could do with U.S. users’ data.
Initiatives like the creator rewards program, sponsorships and a growing need for a social media presence across multiple platforms are all things content creators must take into consideration. Over the past few years, TikTok has gained popularity and users continue to flock to the app.
TikTok, along with other social media platforms, have become a main source of income of some content creators, including Amanda Matta.
Matta, who lives in Harrisburg, has gained more than 1.5 million followers on TikTok by recording videos about the royal family. Matta says she has always considered the inconsistency of social media, but still feels as though TikTok is one of the best for sharing and engaging with information.
“TikTok to me is one of the most successful ways to disseminate information,” Matta said. “Yeah I’m concerned about our attention spans, but the younger generation needs that fast and quick information. It’s valuable and it’s a great tool to get information out there.”
Matta said she only has a large following because of her TikTok videos and feels like the government’s stance on the app is “being overblown.” She feels as though TikTok isn’t the only app that collects user data.
“I don’t think it’s just China,” she said. “The U.S. does it too, social media does it. It is possible to use TikTok without adding too much personal data. It’s not much different from the same ads you see on Instagram or Facebook, and I feel the situation is being overblown.”
Matta hopes her large following will move across platforms with her if TikTok were to officially be banned and hopes that she would be able to continue her content on Instagram. A change like that could give her more time to focus on other outlets like her Substack articles and art history podcast.
Philadelphia native content creator Cierra Williams has unintentionally created a community for young Black women by simply opening the TikTok app and being herself. Williams has over 100,000 followers on TikTok creating content based around funny life stories and exploring her home city.
“I’m just being me, sometimes I don’t want to show y’all where to go,” Williams said. “I wanna gatekeep. I’m not gonna be out partying every weekend, that’s not me. I’m just going to show y’all what it’s like to be from here (Philadelphia) and living here.”
Williams does content creation in addition to working as a marketing manager in Philly, and says she enjoys the extra income, but feels as though the app has provided way more than just money for her.
“The income is as consistent as you are,” Williams said. “Obviously people should create content because they love it, but it’s important to me because I feel as though I have a real community of people who, even when I meet people in real life, it’s always really cool because it’s not that every single person that follows me is gonna be exactly like me. But I can see similarities and myself like ‘ohh, okay, we could be friends.’
“It’s really cool to see that and it’s cool to see other girls, especially younger Black women. They like to talk in the comments or like to have a whole separate conversation. I feel as though we can gather and just express whatever is going on at the moment and I feel like it’s really fun, kind of like a community of womanhood.”
During a recent meeting with the PennLive editorial board, Sen. Bob Casey said that his main concern is keeping the U.S. safe.
Casey said his chief concern is “national security and the grave threats that China poses on a whole range of security fronts.”
TikTok will not disappear off everyone’s phone right away. The House of Representatives has to vote on the bill and it will then have to make its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
ByteDance could also agree to sell the app to a U.S.-based company to avoid a ban as well.
