For contentcreators, Jan. 19 isnt just the day before President Donald Trump takes office.
Its the day they could loseTikTok and the financial freedom its brought some of them in the process.
Youre out of touch for not realizing this is a real industry.
But smaller creators say this mindset completely leaves them out of the equation.
TikTok being banned is going to hurt me financially and Im not an influencer.
Its not been life-changing money, but it has been life-saving money for me.
I dont mean to be dramatic but it has saved us.
Im going to have to go back to figuring out how to survive.
Paulina Hoong, a 29-year-old from California, grew up in rural Minnesota.
TikTok has helped me financially support myself 100 percent.
Not only have I found an online impact but also the videos have helped me gain customers in person.
I do a lot of pop-up shop events in the Bay Area, Hoong says.
Losing TikTok Shop would be the most difficult part, she says.
Customers often get platform-funded coupons that I wouldnt be able to fund myself.
I think people dont understand that so many people rely on TikTok for their livelihoods, Hoong says.
It also gives me hope that the ban could go away.
I know theres a small chance, but I am hoping!
