A looming U.S. TikTok ban is starting to sink in for content creators whose livelihoods rely on the popular video app.
The ban is expected to take effect on Jan. 19, after the Supreme Court heard arguments Friday about the move following months of debate. Congress has argued for a ban due to privacy concerns with Chinese parent company ByteDance, while TikTok lawyers argue a ban would violate users’ free speech rights.
Washington, D.C.-based wedding stylist Kati Kons, who has been posting about the ban on her TikTok handle @portraitofabrideonfire, says she’s in danger of losing her business.
“It really hit me where I was like, 90 per cent of my business comes from TikTok. Ninety per cent of my clients,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve had a single client inquiry come in from Instagram.”