TikTok Creators Face Uncertain Future as Economy Falters

US Senate Passes Bill to Ban TikTok on Government Devices

Late Tuesday, the US Senate approved legislation that prohibits the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, raising national security concerns about the app’s ties to China.

TikTok Creators Fear for Their Livelihoods

“This is my livelihood, this is how I am going to feed my child, this is how many people are feeding their children,” a Pennsylvania-based TikTok creator named Aubrey who posts under the handle Makeupfresh said.

Aubrey, who requested to be identified by her first name only for privacy reasons, stated that she and other creators she knows plan to vote against lawmakers who supported the TikTok ban in the upcoming November general election.

James Nord, the creator of the influencer marketing platform Fohr, warned that TikTok’s disappearance would be an “extinction level event” for many creators, as most of them lack sustainable followings on other platforms and would struggle to transfer their audience to Instagram.

House Lawmakers Pave the Way for Senate Vote

House lawmakers set the stage for Tuesday’s Senate vote over the weekend by including a ban on TikTok on federal devices in the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. The legislation also prohibits TikTok Shop, a feature that enables users to sell, market, and purchase products directly within the app.

TikTok Creators Rely on App-Specific Programs for Income

Aubrey, who has around 30,000 TikTok followers, revealed that approximately a quarter of her income comes from posting reviews of products available through TikTok Shop, such as an all-natural skincare serum. She earns a percentage of each sale made by her viewers. However, the majority of her income is generated through the TikTok Creativity Challenge, a program that allows amateur content creators to earn money by creating advertisements for brands like Netflix.

TikTok Creators Integral to US Economy

Aubrey’s experience highlights how TikTok creators have become an integral part of the US economy. As a stay-at-home mom with a modest following, her livelihood depends on TikTok-specific programs rather than major brand deals. Replicating her success on another platform would likely prove challenging.

“I just don’t think that [lawmakers] are listening at this point,” Aubrey said. “A lot of them, in my opinion, don’t understand what TikTok is, what TikTok Shop is, or how it is benefiting people.”