JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — TikTok is expected to cease operations at midnight, and it’s causing lots of confusion and concern for its users and content creators.
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The app has around 170 million users here in the United States and many of them have used the platform for advertising and even for personal income.
A local Jacksonville TikTok creator said the app is the reason her business is booming. Kendall Azevedo said TikTok has allowed her to work remotely and still be a stay-at-home mom for her three young children.
She said she would hate to say goodbye to her 1 million followers, but with TikTok indicating it will “go dark” on Sunday, January 19, unless the Biden administration clarifies it will not enforce the ban on the platform, she may have to soon.
“I get to be with my kids at home and make good money. All I have to do is make a little video. I may spend 20 minutes to an hour editing it, but it’s changed my life,” said Azevedo.
She said thanks to the app, she has been able to make up to $35,000 in just one month as a TikTok shop and Amazon affiliate. If the app shuts down, she said she would not lose all her income, however, it would still be a significant hit to her pocketbook.
“I just made a coloring book, and it’s succeeded tremendously all because of TikTok. I’ll be missing out on a lot of that I worked for, memories, and money.”
TikTok has also been essential for networking. Many businesses have turned to the app to promote their products and brands.
Local content creator, Ashley Aguilar said TikTok videos that go viral can build a foundation for some new local shops in Jacksonville.
“One of the biggest differences is the search engine on TikTok versus Instagram. It’s almost like a Google video search. If you search for a pizza restaurant in Jacksonville on TikTok, it’s very different than searching on Instagram,” said Aguilar.
President-elect Donald Trump said hours ago, he may delay the ban on TikTok for 90 days. He adds he will announce his decision on Monday.
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