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I'm really curious and somewhat worried about what the economic effect of this is going to be. There are a number of legitimate small businesses that saw a lot

I'm really curious and somewhat worried about what the economic effect of this is going to be. There are a number of legitimate small businesses that saw a lot of, if not all of, their business and customer base through TikTok. Business that just will not be able to make the move to somewhere else. I personally know musicians, actors, and artists that got a lot of work through TikTok. People who actually create things, and people who just used the app to make ends meet who probably aren't going to make ends meet this month

jmspring 2y ago
There are other properties to pivot to. ByteDance had the chance to sell, the access to data that even credit bureaus would want is too much for a foreign adversary.
- jonahhorowitz 2y ago
  Are there? Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are awful in comparison to the TikTok experience. Red Note is funny, but not really a replacement. Nobody is going to go to Snap.
- 0x6c6f6c 2y ago
  We utilize every platform equally. TikTok organically grew at least 5x the followership for our business, meanwhile Meta gouges us for advertising to be seen at all and we see worse results and interactions there. No, these options are not truly equal, and many businesses will suffer.
gemerald 2y ago
You should never be fully reliant on a single corporate platform if you make a living selling goods or services.
- 0x6c6f6c 2y ago
  You can be fully aware of this and still have issues building up your platform elsewhere. We utilize every platform equally. TikTok organically grew at least 5x the followership for our business, meanwhile Meta gouges us for advertising to be seen at all and we see worse results and interactions there. The ban of TikTok will have resounding effects even if people are utilizing the alternatives. I've seen far too many people who haven't used TikTok and the alternatives for their business, or are not business owners at all, declare their opinions as facts when they have no actual experience in this space. I'm not saying this explicitly includes you, I don't make presumptions about your experience in this space.
  - genocidicbunny 2y ago
    Regardless, the parent is correct. If you're reliant on a single platform, for whatever reasons, you're vulnerable to being fucked over by that platform. Practically speaking, how is TT being banned different than being arbitrarily banned from TT?
    - t-writescode 2y ago
      And we put PayPal and Google on blast every time they ban a creator because they are more than one of many, they’re the main place everyone goes.
      - genocidicbunny 2y ago
        No, we don't. Most of the people affected end up just moving on. It's only a few rare instances where someone has enough of an audience to 'put them on blast'.
  - Salgat 2y ago
    That's because most of the users are there. Now they will go somewhere else, and you can utilize whatever becomes the next big platform.
- globular-toast 2y ago
  Which will be impossible if people stop using cash.
enjo 2y ago
They had plenty of time to figure this out.
paxys 2y ago
There's nothing inherently special about TikTok. It just happens to be the hot social media platform right now. There were plenty before it and there will be plenty after it. There will be a short period of adjustment and eventually everyone will move on to something else. People aren't going to stop listening to music or buying things.
- KaoruAoiShiho 2y ago
  Are you sure about this? I've heard many many times that tiktok is uniquely good at discovery for new businesses.
  - ty6853 2y ago
    That would be a very good reason why a corporate influence dominated government would want to shut them down.
  - notatoad 2y ago
    yeah, tiktok really was (is?) something special because unlike other platforms, their algorithm really increased people's reach out beyond their own community. youtube shorts and instagram reels seem like they do the same thing on the surface, but they're so much more focused on showing you content that they are certain you'll like, and from people in your network or people who you normally watch. they're a whole lot more focused on keeping people in their existing content silos.
  - dleeftink 2y ago
    It's the exact reason the platform economy has gotten such a bad rep over the years; drawing people in, taking a (disproportionate) slice of the pie, and providing no guarantees for a sustained income upon disruption.
  - paxys 2y ago
    Because TikTok is where the hip young demographic is. If they all move to say Instagram Reels en masse then Instagram will be the platform that is uniquely good for discovery among that audience. And let's not pretend that TikTok is filled to the brim with high quality products and small businesses. Yes there may be a couple of feel good stories about a local pizza place or small band that got their big break because of TikTok, but 99.9% of the advertising there is for the same junk/scam products that are on every other influencer-driven app.
scarface_74 2y ago
My friend who is bartender downstairs from my condo is a singer in a band. They are active on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
waltbosz 2y ago
My cousin worked at a place where he would stream for 8 hours a day on tiktok and sell trading card packs and other collectables. I guess it was a bit like home shopping network. But his streams were kinda goofy and playful. I didn't really understand who the customers were. I guess some people found him entertaining and liked what he was selling.
- reaperducer 2y ago
  So he's going to get a job now?
  - jrflowers 2y ago
    “Entertainment isn’t a real job” is a cool and normal opinion to have, and it’s usually held by people that are a blast to be around
    - chgs 2y ago
      It generally is. Many successful entertainers say they can’t believe they are paid to do what they do. “You play the guitar on the MTV // That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it // Money for nothing and your chicks for free”
rvz 2y ago
Did nothing to India with its 1B+ users when it was banned there 4 years ago. They just either used a VPN or just moved on. While I disagree with the ban, I'd rather have a sensible fine just like the ones for Meta, Google (YouTube) and others. At one point it also might have temporarily saved someone's chronic addiction to the platform, then they'll just find another platform to get hooked on. But for now nature is healing.
- aprilthird2021 2y ago
  Indian users are very well versed in and used to circumventing government bans. It's a different audience
- aucisson_masque 2y ago
  American are the chicken with golden egg, you don't want to lose them. They have the biggest ad profile value. Indian on contrary are cheap, their profile are worth close to nothing.
dzhiurgis 2y ago
I think national security might be more important than couple of small entertainment businesses.
voidfunc 2y ago
Don't worry it will be reversed by the end of the week.
- MangoCoffee 2y ago
  How? It's a law passed by Congress with support from both parties. Trump can delay the enforcement, but who knows what will happen after he is gone? Is there any guarantee that Apple, Google, or any companies providing services to TikTok won't face massive fines after Trump leaves?
  - voidfunc 2y ago
    The executive branch enforces laws. If there is no plan to enforce then it doesn't matter. Also, unblocked as of now. Told ya.
bearjaws 2y ago
Companies had 4 years, and more recently, 4 months of notice. Theres two other doom scrolling platforms to choose from. I think people overestimate how much local businesses relied on it, sure a few were booming making "me too" content (looking at you pressure washing companies). But you will still find the goods and services you need. And now you won't have dozens of bad temu ad's "OH I feel bad for whoever bought this vacuum yesterday because now its 57% off!!!"
Salgat 2y ago
I'm more concerned if our domestic economy can face that much hardship at the whims of a foriegn app. Seems like requiring divesting was the right call. Thankfully the bill includes provisions to require divestment much earlier on.
disambiguation 2y ago
I know think of the poor starving only fans entrepreneurs - i mean small business owners. How ever will they pay for college now?
- saturn8601 2y ago
  Why do you bash people who have found a way to make an income? We all know tech ain't hiring after everyone was told to 'learn to code'. What else is there to lead a middle class lifestyle?
  - disambiguation 2y ago
    Good luck if you ever have daughters.
    - saturn8601 2y ago
      You didn't actually answer the question.
skue 2y ago
This wasn’t a sudden thing. The law was passed 9 months ago.

jmspring 2y ago

There are other properties to pivot to. ByteDance had the chance to sell, the access to data that even credit bureaus would want is too much for a foreign adversary.

jonahhorowitz 2y ago
Are there? Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are awful in comparison to the TikTok experience. Red Note is funny, but not really a replacement. Nobody is going to go to Snap.
0x6c6f6c 2y ago
We utilize every platform equally. TikTok organically grew at least 5x the followership for our business, meanwhile Meta gouges us for advertising to be seen at all and we see worse results and interactions there. No, these options are not truly equal, and many businesses will suffer.

gemerald 2y ago

You should never be fully reliant on a single corporate platform if you make a living selling goods or services.

0x6c6f6c 2y ago
You can be fully aware of this and still have issues building up your platform elsewhere. We utilize every platform equally. TikTok organically grew at least 5x the followership for our business, meanwhile Meta gouges us for advertising to be seen at all and we see worse results and interactions there. The ban of TikTok will have resounding effects even if people are utilizing the alternatives. I've seen far too many people who haven't used TikTok and the alternatives for their business, or are not business owners at all, declare their opinions as facts when they have no actual experience in this space. I'm not saying this explicitly includes you, I don't make presumptions about your experience in this space.
- genocidicbunny 2y ago
  Regardless, the parent is correct. If you're reliant on a single platform, for whatever reasons, you're vulnerable to being fucked over by that platform. Practically speaking, how is TT being banned different than being arbitrarily banned from TT?
  - t-writescode 2y ago
    And we put PayPal and Google on blast every time they ban a creator because they are more than one of many, they’re the main place everyone goes.
    - genocidicbunny 2y ago
      No, we don't. Most of the people affected end up just moving on. It's only a few rare instances where someone has enough of an audience to 'put them on blast'.
- Salgat 2y ago
  That's because most of the users are there. Now they will go somewhere else, and you can utilize whatever becomes the next big platform.
globular-toast 2y ago
Which will be impossible if people stop using cash.

enjo 2y ago

They had plenty of time to figure this out.

paxys 2y ago

There's nothing inherently special about TikTok. It just happens to be the hot social media platform right now. There were plenty before it and there will be plenty after it. There will be a short period of adjustment and eventually everyone will move on to something else. People aren't going to stop listening to music or buying things.

KaoruAoiShiho 2y ago
Are you sure about this? I've heard many many times that tiktok is uniquely good at discovery for new businesses.
- ty6853 2y ago
  That would be a very good reason why a corporate influence dominated government would want to shut them down.
- notatoad 2y ago
  yeah, tiktok really was (is?) something special because unlike other platforms, their algorithm really increased people's reach out beyond their own community. youtube shorts and instagram reels seem like they do the same thing on the surface, but they're so much more focused on showing you content that they are certain you'll like, and from people in your network or people who you normally watch. they're a whole lot more focused on keeping people in their existing content silos.
- dleeftink 2y ago
  It's the exact reason the platform economy has gotten such a bad rep over the years; drawing people in, taking a (disproportionate) slice of the pie, and providing no guarantees for a sustained income upon disruption.
- paxys 2y ago
  Because TikTok is where the hip young demographic is. If they all move to say Instagram Reels en masse then Instagram will be the platform that is uniquely good for discovery among that audience. And let's not pretend that TikTok is filled to the brim with high quality products and small businesses. Yes there may be a couple of feel good stories about a local pizza place or small band that got their big break because of TikTok, but 99.9% of the advertising there is for the same junk/scam products that are on every other influencer-driven app.

scarface_74 2y ago

My friend who is bartender downstairs from my condo is a singer in a band. They are active on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

waltbosz 2y ago

My cousin worked at a place where he would stream for 8 hours a day on tiktok and sell trading card packs and other collectables. I guess it was a bit like home shopping network. But his streams were kinda goofy and playful. I didn't really understand who the customers were. I guess some people found him entertaining and liked what he was selling.

reaperducer 2y ago
So he's going to get a job now?
- jrflowers 2y ago
  “Entertainment isn’t a real job” is a cool and normal opinion to have, and it’s usually held by people that are a blast to be around
  - chgs 2y ago
    It generally is. Many successful entertainers say they can’t believe they are paid to do what they do. “You play the guitar on the MTV // That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it // Money for nothing and your chicks for free”

rvz 2y ago

Did nothing to India with its 1B+ users when it was banned there 4 years ago. They just either used a VPN or just moved on. While I disagree with the ban, I'd rather have a sensible fine just like the ones for Meta, Google (YouTube) and others. At one point it also might have temporarily saved someone's chronic addiction to the platform, then they'll just find another platform to get hooked on. But for now nature is healing.

aprilthird2021 2y ago
Indian users are very well versed in and used to circumventing government bans. It's a different audience
aucisson_masque 2y ago
American are the chicken with golden egg, you don't want to lose them. They have the biggest ad profile value. Indian on contrary are cheap, their profile are worth close to nothing.

dzhiurgis 2y ago

I think national security might be more important than couple of small entertainment businesses.

voidfunc 2y ago

Don't worry it will be reversed by the end of the week.

MangoCoffee 2y ago
How? It's a law passed by Congress with support from both parties. Trump can delay the enforcement, but who knows what will happen after he is gone? Is there any guarantee that Apple, Google, or any companies providing services to TikTok won't face massive fines after Trump leaves?
- voidfunc 2y ago
  The executive branch enforces laws. If there is no plan to enforce then it doesn't matter. Also, unblocked as of now. Told ya.

bearjaws 2y ago

Companies had 4 years, and more recently, 4 months of notice. Theres two other doom scrolling platforms to choose from. I think people overestimate how much local businesses relied on it, sure a few were booming making "me too" content (looking at you pressure washing companies). But you will still find the goods and services you need. And now you won't have dozens of bad temu ad's "OH I feel bad for whoever bought this vacuum yesterday because now its 57% off!!!"

Salgat 2y ago

I'm more concerned if our domestic economy can face that much hardship at the whims of a foriegn app. Seems like requiring divesting was the right call. Thankfully the bill includes provisions to require divestment much earlier on.

disambiguation 2y ago

I know think of the poor starving only fans entrepreneurs - i mean small business owners. How ever will they pay for college now?

saturn8601 2y ago
Why do you bash people who have found a way to make an income? We all know tech ain't hiring after everyone was told to 'learn to code'. What else is there to lead a middle class lifestyle?
- disambiguation 2y ago
  Good luck if you ever have daughters.
  - saturn8601 2y ago
    You didn't actually answer the question.

skue 2y ago

This wasn’t a sudden thing. The law was passed 9 months ago.