The clock is ticking on TikTok. A federal ban could take effect in less than a week. For millions of users, it’s more than just a video app with skits and recipes—it’s their job and a part of their lifestyle. A Franklin man’s small business exploded on TikTok, giving his brand exposure he might not have seen otherwise. Nick Christiansen makes vinyl banners for a living at his company, Milweb1. “I ended up doing a video for it just once, and it got a million in 24 hours, and that was it. I was, you know, addicted to it and I wanted to keep doing more,” Christiansen said. He now has 2.6 million followers and 71.6 million likes on his account, which includes banner-making content from Girl Scouts to graduates. It documents the process from printing to packaging and shipping. “Everyone thought I was wasting time making TikTok videos. Everyone assumed it was dancing. But like, no, you can do business there too,” Christiansen said. The US Supreme Court looks set to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the US starting January 19 unless its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, sells. “This is going to hurt a lot of small businesses that have done so well on TikTok in the last couple of years,” Christiansen said. “Suddenly, these people will have nothing.” WISN 12 reporter Kendall Keys asked Christiansen: “Yeah, for sure,” Christiansen said. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be gone if this goes away.” If the ban goes into effect, the app won’t immediately disappear from phones that have already downloaded TikTok. By law, you won’t be able to update the app or download it again, which means the app may eventually crash or stop working. Internet companies may also have to stop storing TikTok’s data, which would make it so users wouldn’t be able to see an updated feed and likely wouldn’t be able to post. Christiansen said that he has already started copying his videos on YouTube and Instagram. “I’m not going to make everybody move. They’re going to find me. I’ve got enough videos going viral all over the place, so eventually they’re going to find me somewhere,” Christiansen said. Tech experts tell ABC News that if the app is banned, it would not make it a crime to use TikTok. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision any day.
The clock is ticking on TikTok. A federal ban could take effect in less than a week.
For millions of users, it’s more than just a video app with skits and recipes—it’s their job and a part of their lifestyle.
A Franklin man’s small business exploded on TikTok, giving his brand exposure he might not have seen otherwise.
Nick Christiansen makes vinyl banners for a living at his company, Milweb1.
“I ended up doing a video for it just once, and it got a million in 24 hours, and that was it. I was, you know, addicted to it and I wanted to keep doing more,” Christiansen said.
He now has 2.6 million followers and 71.6 million likes on his account, which includes banner-making content from Girl Scouts to graduates. It documents the process from printing to packaging and shipping.
“Everyone thought I was wasting time making TikTok videos. Everyone assumed it was dancing. But like, no, you can do business there too,” Christiansen said.
The US Supreme Court looks set to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the US starting January 19 unless its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, sells.
“This is going to hurt so many small businesses that have done so well on TikTok in the last couple of years,” Christiansen said. “Suddenly, these people will have nothing.”
“When we talk about monetary loss missing on TikTok, you’re going to lose six figures?” WISN 12 reporter Kendall Keys asked Christiansen.
“Yes, definitely,” Christiansen said. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be gone if this goes away.”
If the ban goes into effect, the app won’t immediately disappear from phones that have already downloaded TikTok. By law, you won’t be able to update the app or download it again, which means the app may eventually crash or stop working.
Internet companies may also have to stop storing TikTok’s data, which would make it so users wouldn’t be able to see an updated feed and likely wouldn’t be able to post.
Christiansen said he has already started copying his videos on YouTube and Instagram.
“I’m not going to make everybody move. They’re going to find me. I’ve got enough videos going viral all over the place, so eventually they’re going to find me somewhere,” Christiansen said.
Tech experts tell ABC News that if the app is banned, it would not make it a crime to use TikTok.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision any day.
