The TikTok ban implemented on January 19, 2025, has sparked significant controversy. The U.S. government justified the ban by citing privacy concerns, such as the potential influence of the Chinese Communist Party on American citizens, the possibility that ByteDance could sell U.S. data to China and broader concerns about the safety and well-being of American children. But has the TikTok ban actually done more harm than good?
First, it is important to mention the misconception that only the youth use the platform. In reality, about one-third of U.S. adults actively view, post and comment on TikTok. This statistic highlights the platform’s broad appeal to a wide demographic. This is especially relevant when considering the business side of the platform.
By banning TikTok, the government would disrupt the modern entrepreneurial landscape. Many adult content creators rely solely on TikTok as their primary source of income. By earning money through TikTok Creator Fund, brand partnerships and sponsored content, many people gather their earnings through content. When rumors of TikTok’s potential ban surfaced in January on short notice and without warning, many content creators went into a frenzy, scrambling to figure out how they would make a living and support themselves in the future. After all, for many, TikTok was their primary source of income. It was not just content creators who were worried—many small business owners and music artists also faced significant concerns about their revenue. TikTok’s fast-paced algorithm proved to be an ideal platform for promoting emerging businesses and products. Its ability to rapidly engage users and generate viral trends made it an invaluable marketing tool. In fact, TikTok’s impact on small businesses was so substantial that it helped generate a remarkable $15 billion in revenue for U.S. small businesses in 2023 alone. For many entrepreneurs, the platform became a vital lifeline, allowing them to reach a wider audience. Banning TikTok would hinder the rise of emerging artists like Ice Spice, Doja Cat and Olivia Rodrigo, and businesses such as The Pink Stuff and Scrunchies, all of which gained widespread popularity thanks to the platform.
NHP’s own content creators and business owners know firsthand how it feels to experience the impact of a ban. They have faced the challenges of losing a key platform for visibility and growth, making them especially aware of the potential consequences such a move could have on others in the community.
“The TikTok ban would affect people like me because TikTok is the easiest platform to expand influence and reach on,” senior TikTok influencer Ajwad Karim said. “If it goes, thousands if not tens of thousands of creators and aspiring influencers will take a serious hit in terms of potential. So many people use TikTok everyday to consume quick, short videos. The way the algorithm is designed helps people like us reach people who otherwise would never see our videos.”
“The TikTok ban would significantly impact businesses, particularly those that rely heavily on social media for promotion,” senior Viral TikTok Manager and COO Frances Lin said. “It would affect our Virtual Enterprise business, Viral, and its clients the most, as we primarily operate on social media to help small businesses build their virtual presence and expand their reach. Without TikTok, these businesses may struggle to gain the traction they need, as TikTok is one of the easiest platforms for gaining visibility.”
“It’s pretty much the only platform where anybody is able to grow their audience by simply being consistent,” senior content creator Maximus Josue said. “Other platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook are much less rewarding and their algorithms tend to only push already successful influencers to the top of the page. Additionally, TikTok has become a major source of income for many small businesses, allowing people to advertise their products in a unique way without competing with multi-million dollar companies.”
Shifting away from the business impact of the ban, it is also crucial to recognize that it infringes on the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights. TikTok has become a vital platform for sharing news and promoting social activism, covering issues from the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. By banning TikTok, the flow of information is significantly restricted, especially considering that 52% of people now rely on the platform for their news, with companies like Fox News, CNN and NY Times actively posting.
The powerful role TikTok plays in communication can be compared to the role social media had during the Arab Spring. During that event, platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube were essential in organizing pro-democracy protests, spreading real-time information and bypassing government-controlled media. Similarly, TikTok has had a significant impact in shaping public awareness and action during events like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The platform has been used as a call to action, connecting like-minded people to gather together for a cause.
For example, when news broke about the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian war, many content creators used their TikTok platforms as fundraising tools, harnessing grassroots efforts to gather donations, with all funds directed toward Gaza. This collective effort resulted in raising around $225 million to support those affected by the crisis. Banning TikTok would hinder collective movements like the ones mentioned, significantly limiting the ability to provide aid and support to those suffering from crises like war, starvation and other humanitarian emergencies.
Moving on, there are some subtle racial implications behind the TikTok ban. A significant part of the U.S. government’s criticism has been directed at the fact that the app is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, which has fueled concerns due to its connection to the Chinese government and its communist regime. While some of these concerns about data privacy and national security are legitimate, it’s important to note that the actual owner of TikTok is based in Singapore, not China.
This fact raises questions about whether the ban has deeper motivations, possibly reflecting a form of racial profiling, as the focus on a Chinese-owned company may have been disproportionate compared to similar concerns with apps from other countries. The U.S. has a history of profiling Asian Americans during periods of economic hardship, public health crises and political instability, as evidenced by events such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the rise in anti-Asian sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This issue is further complicated by the fact that Google and Facebook, American-owned companies, have been proven to monetize users’ personal data, yet little is being done to address or regulate this practice. This creates a double standard, where concerns over data privacy seem disproportionately focused on foreign companies while domestic companies continue similar practices without facing the same level of scrutiny.
The timing of the TikTok ban is also worth noting. It coincided with the Gaza ceasefire, which ended a 15-month conflict. Given TikTok’s rising influence in shaping narratives during such events, authorities may have seen this as an opportunity to control information flow. Additionally, the ban came shortly before President Trump’s inauguration, who had initially pushed for a TikTok ban over national security concerns. He had concerns over the breach of data privacy and potential ties of the app to the Chinese government. However, as the deadline neared, he shifted to allowing negotiations between TikTok and American companies, like Oracle and Walmart. This shift could have been partly motivated by a desire to gain popularity with American citizens, many of whom are avid TikTok users. This point is further emphasized by the official TikTok notice posted on the app after the ban was revoked, which praised President Trump for his efforts.
Considering these points, it is important to emphasize the broader theme of modernization. TikTok represents a new form of media, a fresh concept in the ever-evolving landscape of digital platforms. Social media, in the form of platforms like TikTok, is here to stay, whether it is TikTok itself or future platforms like RedNote (Xiaohongshu) or Lemon8. Much like when television was first introduced, there was initial skepticism. Yet today, television is a staple in American homes, with 125 million TV households across the U.S.
While many may feel uneasy with the structure of the app, it is ultimately a matter of adaptation. If we remained resistant to technological change, we would still be foraging for wheat in the fields of Mesopotamia. As time progresses, so do our ways of living, traveling and, of course, entertaining ourselves. Therefore, it is essential to embrace change and move forward with the times.
