Canadian content creators react to potential TikTok ban after U.S. House passed bill over security concerns
TikTok, the app owned by Chinese technology company Bytedance, has been targeted as an enemy of the state by American members of the U.S. Congress. They want the owners to sell it, or it will be blocked.
Dominique Baker is a Canadian content creator with over 163,000 followers on TikTok, most of them from the U.S. "I get a lot of opportunities from American brands, so I think I will be hit," says Baker. "I think I will see a dip in my income if there is a ban in the US for TikTok. It's a bit scary, I think the engagement will really, really tank."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
With about 170 million users, TikTok's American market is a place Canadian content creators can tap into, and make a lot of money. Baker notes, "I will most definitely be focusing more on YouTube. I have a pretty thriving community on YouTube so if an American ban on does go ahead; I will be putting all of my energy into Instagram and YouTube."
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok over security concerns, calling on Bytedance to sell its American assets within six months, or be blocked.
Vitus Spehar is an American TikToker with over 3.1 million followers. "This is my livelihood, it's been one of the greatest discoverability platforms for the average person to break into, making their passion a reality," Spehar says. "There are over 300,000 American jobs that work on TikTok that would be affected if there were a ban. So, we're talking about taking billions of dollars out of the local economy from one of the social media apps that has provided the greatest amount of social mobility for the average person."
With the news of a potential ban south of the border, it has just been made public in Canada, that in September 2023 the federal government ordered a national security review of TikTok. The federal government also banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023, after federal and provincial privacy commissioners launched their own investigation into the platform.
Jérôme Miousse, Director of Public Affairs with Tourism Ottawa says, their social media accounts have followers from all over the world. "We're doing well with Instagram, where we have over 160,000 followers, we also have a good amount on Facebook and LinkedIn on where they do more of the business/corporate side of their marketing." Miousse adds, "If there is a ban in the states, we'll just adapt to it, and repurpose efforts to other social media platforms which we already use. We like to use all tools at our disposal to reach all of our audiences, so of course if we notice that younger people, gen Z, or millennials are on social media. The most important thing is to reach people where they are."
While TikTok argues its creators will lose billions of dollars if there is a ban in the U.S., they also note 1 in 3 American users gets their news from the app, and between 5 and 7 million small business that use the platform say TikTok brings them in the most money.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.