With TikTok offline, Bay Area experts weigh in on economic impacts of US ban
SAN FRANCISCO – The clock has run out on TikTok as the app went dark for many users in the United States following a recent ban that took effect. Despite this setback, the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, remains optimistic about the future. He stated, “Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to ensure our platform thrives as your online home for limitless creativity and discovery, as well as a source of inspiration and joy for years to come. Thank you. More to come.”
The implications of this ban extend beyond politics and into the economic realm. TikTok had amassed tens of millions of users and influencers across the United States, including a growing presence with an office in the Bay Area that it planned to expand.
Arianna Villa, a 19-year-old TikTok user, shared her thoughts on the platform’s versatility. “It’s entertaining, a place to shop, and I even use it for my homework. It’s my go-to source for news,” she said. “You can go there and search up, ‘What’s the answer to this?’ and get it off TikTok more than the teacher. Seriously!”
With TikTok now offline, many are looking toward President Trump for a potential solution. TikTok had previously warned its 170 million U.S. users that the application would soon be inaccessible. This week, users reported difficulties in finding or accessing the app.
The platform stated, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok. Please stay tuned!”
Trump is currently proposing a 90-day extension to address the situation, and TikTok’s CEO is expected to attend the inauguration.
Cory Johnson, chief market strategist at Epistrophy Capital Research, emphasizes the national security concerns associated with TikTok, stating, “It is very important to ban TikTok in the U.S. It poses a true national security risk. This is one of the rare areas where both Democrats and Republicans find common ground.” Johnson supports the law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell to an American buyer or face a ban starting January 19.
He expressed concern that the information gathered by TikTok could potentially be used by the Chinese military, posing a threat to U.S. security as tensions rise in global relations.
On the other hand, organizations like the ACLU argue that the ban is driven by “fear-mongering and speculation.” Critics point out that other American companies, such as Google and Meta, also collect and sell user data without facing similar bans.
Billion-dollar economic stakes are also involved due to e-commerce generated through TikTok. Johnson noted, “You wouldn’t think that stock market information and tech data would be found on TikTok, but it is significant for my business. This ban will disrupt our economy.”
Further, while TikTok already holds vast amounts of data on U.S. consumers, Johnson cautions that advancements in technology, like AI, will yield even more sophisticated data collection methods that could pose greater risks.
In South Bay, lawmaker Ro Khanna expressed concern after speaking with content creators impacted by the ban. “Some of them were in tears. They expressed uncertainty about unemployment support and their future,” he recounted. “This ban is ignoring the real people who are affected. It feels tone-deaf and disconnected from the realities of everyday Americans.”
Khanna mentioned a petition garnering nearly a million signatures urging the president to pause the ban. “This is the most signatures I’ve ever seen in my eight years in Congress,” he added.
