Concerns Grow Over Potential TikTok Ban

Concerns are mounting among small business owners in Minnesota and Michigan as TikTok faces a potential nationwide ban due to its Chinese ownership by ByteDance. Around 70,000 businesses in Minnesota rely on TikTok for marketing, with many stating it is vital to their operations. A federal court has upheld legislation that could ban TikTok if ByteDance does not sell the app by January 19, 2025, affecting over 165,000 businesses in Michigan alone. In response, TikTok is ramping up user engagement by offering incentives through TikTok Shop to bolster its user base ahead of the possible ban. The app has recently reported success in its e-commerce efforts, tripling sales during Black Friday. With TikTok's user demographics heavily skewed towards Gen Z, the implications of a ban could be significant, as 50% of this age group uses the platform daily.