TikTok users from all around the country are freaking out and they definitely have a reason for it. After President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he was planning on banning the controversial Chinese appmany took to their accounts to not only say their last digital rites, but also expressed their shock, dismay and disappointment over seeing their favorite app banned by the leader of the free world. Here’s what you need to know.
On Friday evening, TikTok users began livestreaming and posting videos in tribute to what they feared was the end of TikTok, the short-form video app they’ve come to love and depend on. Ehi Omigie, who has about 25,000 followers, said, “Everyone is live right now. Everyone is going cray cray … If it does happen, follow me on Instagram.”
TikTok Users Are Bracing For The Worst
Others were trying to strategize a way around the ban by trying to make it look like they are located in a different country. Then there were others who were doing their best not to freak out in front of the camera, but had a hard time doing so. One user cried, “Do not panic yet. Do not panic right now.”
“As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump said to reporters while aboard Air Force One on Friday.
For a lot of TikTok fans and popular celebrities, this is troubling news. Some TikTok stars like 16-year-old Charli D’Amelio roughly make anywhere from $24k to $40k with just one sponsored post. Another TikToker named Sean, who runs @seandoesmagic and has 13.5 million followers, told TMZ that the TikTok shut down would cost him between $15k to $20k per sponsored post. TikToker Drage Kamerman has 2.1 million followers and said he makes $7,000 to $10,000 every few weeks.
The one TikToker who happens to be the most worried is Niko Valdes. He says that he earns anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 and won’t be able to feed his family, should the government decide to ban the app.
YouTube star Larri Merritt who gained over 10 million on his larrayeeee TikTok account wrote, “on a serious note if tiktok is actually getting deleted. Please support your favorite smaller tiktok creators. follow them on YouTube, Instagram etc. some of these kids really do have talent and deserve everything.”
TikTok meanwhile, has denied that it gives data from the app to the Chinese government. “While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok,” TikTok said after Trump’s statement.
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