The U.S. Senate voted to ban the hugely popular Chinese app TikTok. Content creators on TikTok are facing an uncertain future.
The U.S. Senate voted 79-18 on Tuesday to ban the video-sharing app. The bill is headed to President Biden’s desk. Biden has said he will sign the bill into law.
In 2022, Biden banned TikTok on phones used by federal government employees.
Last month, the US House passed a different version of the TikTok ban bill. Saturday’s bill is an updated version. The difference is that Congress will give TikTok nearly a year to sell the app or be banned.
ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, will have 9 months to sell TikTok — or the ban will go into effect.
ByteDance has already stated it won’t sell the app to anyone.
A spokesman for TikTok said the ban “would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, mainly young people who create videos for a living.
RELATED: Congress Passes Bill to Ban TikTok
ByteDance insists it is not a Chinese agent, and it is not spying on Americans through the app.
ByteDance launched TikTok in the U.S. in 2013. It became wildly popular with young people.
Commenters online reacted to the news today.
One person wrote: “They can get this done in an instant but can’t do a thing about any other issue in this country.”
A TikTok influencer wrote: “Right after I hit a million followers and got my blue check. This really sucks.”
While others warned content creators to diversify their platforms.
One person wrote: “Get your a** in gear TODAY to reduce your risk. All content goes on Reels, Shorts and Spotlight. Watch what works. Learn.”
Below are some of the content creators who would be forced to find a job if TikTok is banned.
@that.girlleelee When you that Moma that let your kids come back home to get their life together this what they do ?#grown #tictok #viral #bedroom #lights ? original sound – That.girlLeeLee
@summerreignhenning Replying to @? ? original sound – Summer Reign Henning
@official.mrhungry #mrhungry #itstimetoeat #krispykreme #krispykremedonuts #umai? ? Tujhe Dekha Toh – JUL MARUF
