Small business owners concerned as TikTok ban looms

[Karah]

THE POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA APP TIKTOK COULD NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE IN THE U-S IN A MATTER OF DAYS – AND THE LOOMING THREAT HAS SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CONCERNED.

EVEN THOUGH THE APP LAUNCHED IN 2017- SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY USE TIKTOK IN A NUMBER OF WAYS – FROM ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TO SELLING GOODS DIRECTLY.

BUT COME JANUARY 19-TH – TIKTOK COULD BE BANNED IF ITS OWNER, BYTEDANCE, DOESN’T SELL THE PLATFORM.

BYTEDANCE WAS ORDERED TO SELL THE U-S BRANCH OF THE PLATFORM OVER NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.

TIKTOK ESTIMATES THE BAN WOULD COST THE COMPANY MORE THAN 1 **BILLION** DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN A SINGLE MONTH.

IF THE BAN DOES TAKE EFFECT – SMALL BUSINESSES COULD STILL TURN TO ALTERNATIVES LIKE INSTAGRAM REELS, SNAPCHAT AND YOUTUBE SHORTS… BUT THAT’S RAISED CONCERNS IT MAY BE HARDER TO REACH TEENS SINCE TIKTOK TENDS TO BE THEIR PREFERRED SOCIAL MEDIA APP.

THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ORAL ARGUMENTS OVER WHETHER THE BAN VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT NEXT FRIDAY.

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP – WHO IS NOT SET TO TAKE OFFICE UNTIL JANUARY 20-TH, THE DAY AFTER THE BAN IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT – HAS ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER A DELAY ON THE BAN TAKING EFFECT.

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