As the Supreme Court deliberates on Friday whether TikTok could face a ban in the U.S. later this month, millions of American users are anxiously awaiting the verdict.

Among those most affected by the potential ruling are small business owners and full-time creators who rely on the platform for their income. According to a study by TikTok and Oxford Economics, they contribute billions of dollars to the economy.

This case represents a critical clash between free speech and national security. It started in early 2024 when President Joe Biden enacted legislation that could prohibit TikTok’s distribution in the U.S. if its parent company ByteDance does not divest by January 19, 2025. If banned, TikTok would no longer be available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Proponents of the ban cite serious national security risks, claiming the app could enable China to collect personal data on Americans or disseminate pro-China propaganda. Conversely, TikTok supporters argue that banning the app would limit users’ freedom to express themselves digitally.

‘Is TikTok really our main concern?’

TikTok user @dutchdeccc voiced frustrations shared by many in a video that has garnered nearly 10 million views since its release last year.

“Are we going to solve issues like affordable housing? No. Are we handling student debt? No. Are we increasing the minimum wage while corporations make record profits? No,” he states.

He continues to list various social, economic, and political issues he believes deserve greater attention than the prospect of banning a social media app.

“Can we at least use an app to enjoy videos of people having fun and learning about the world? No,” he adds.

This sentiment—that banning TikTok shouldn’t be a priority for U.S. lawmakers—has been echoed in videos by creators of all sizes and reflected in many comments discussing the ban.

“It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” says well-known influencer and makeup artist James Charles in an interview at the 2024 GLAAD Awards. “People are starving, individuals are imprisoned over marijuana charges, we’re involved in a conflict we shouldn’t be in, and TikTok is what we’re focusing on?”

Users argue that free speech, education, and community are at risk

Users have also stressed that allowing access to TikTok relates directly to free speech and the availability of information, aligning with the key argument TikTok is making in front of SCOTUS.

“Never realized how significant information control is in our country,” remarked one widely liked comment beneath a video by @aaronparnas1. “I thought we were the ‘land of the free.’ Now it seems you need to be corrupt to be at the top.”

“I received notifications from hospitals, ATT, and even my mortgage company regarding stolen data. This isn’t really about us or our privacy; it’s about preventing us from sharing information with each other,” commented another user, which received over 13,000 likes.

Others have pointed out that the educational content available on TikTok has been more beneficial to them than what they find on other social media platforms.

“There are no other apps like TikTok. I’ve gained more from this app in four years than I have in 18 years on Facebook,” someone commented, which generated over 24,000 likes.

“I learned more about life skills on TikTok in six months than in all my school years. We’ve lost touch with essential life skills, and TikTok is helping restore that, which seems to frighten the government,” another user explained.

Kiera Spann (@famousblonde), one of eight plaintiffs in a lawsuit aimed at keeping TikTok active in the U.S., has utilized her platform to create a support network while advocating for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

“I’ve been an advocate for sexual violence and domestic abuse on this platform since 2021, after a severe incident at my college where I used TikTok to raise awareness and helped the survivor achieve justice,” she explained in a video regarding the lawsuit.

“I often refer to my page and its comment sections as small ‘Me Too’ movements, as many survivors find comfort in our shared experiences and in my page,” she continued. “To take that away under the pretense of a data security bill, especially when numerous American companies routinely sell our data to foreign entities is terrifying.”

Job security and small business earnings are threatened

Among the most noticeable and immediate consequences of a ban could be substantial economic effects, particularly for small business owners who have raised concerns about this issue.

Callie Goodwin, owner of the account @theloseitlog, traveled to Washington, D.C., from South Carolina with fellow TikTok content creator Sarah Baus to hear the oral arguments on Friday. Both Goodwin, 30, and Baus, 27, depend on TikTok for their income.

Goodwin, who runs a small greeting card and personalized gift business called Sparks Of Joy Co, stated that the majority of her revenue comes from customers discovering her via TikTok. During the holiday shopping season last year, she had sales exceeding $30,000 within just nine days through the app.

“If we were to lose TikTok, I genuinely worry about my business’s survival,” Goodwin told YSL News’s Karissa Waddick while waiting in line on Friday morning. She believes TikTok’s unique algorithm allows small businesses like hers to thrive in ways that platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram do not.

“We have 115,000 followers on TikTok. Combined, we have fewer than 3,000 on Instagram and Facebook,” she stated. “Losing that entire community, customer base, and the ability to reach our target audience would be devastating for my business.”

A 2023 Oxford Economics report, created with TikTok, revealed that the platform contributed $24.2 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product that year and supported 224,000 jobs. The report found that over 7 million of the 170 million active U.S. users were businesses.

TikTok also compiled a 2024 economic report showing that small businesses advertising on the app experienced an 88% boost in sales, collectively earning $15 billion. The report highlighted that 52% of small businesses depend on TikTok to stay competitive.

Creator @chloebluffcakes shared her own success story, stating that the inspiration she received from TikTok spurred her passion for baking. She then established Chloe’s Giant Cookies, which became a huge hit, even serving celebrities like Jessica Simpson and earning her a cookbook deal.

“My dreams became achievable, and it was all thanks to TikTok,” she said. “Furthermore, TikTok helped me find support when my mom’s brain cancer worsened, which allowed my little sister and me to seek help.”

She elaborated that after her mother passed away, the community she had built on TikTok became her primary source of support as she juggled caring for her young sibling alongside her own child while dealing with profound grief.

“So maybe, just maybe, consider how many other women and families, like me, had dreams that took flight here and worked extremely hard to achieve them, only to have it all potentially taken away,” she concluded.

Creating content on TikTok has also become a full-time job for many creators who have not found similar success on other platforms.

“What will I do if TikTok gets banned?” questioned user @eyegameuwatch, who has nearly 700,000 followers and 19.4 million likes on his gaming account. “Before TikTok, I was miserable in my job. I was depressed, unsure of my life path, and broke after getting fired.”

“I committed 18 to 20 hours a day on this app, producing content,” he continued. “Within just four months of joining, I transitioned to being a full-time content creator, cleared my debts, and even moved.”

“I became a success story through this platform, and now, through no fault of my own, my livelihood could be jeopardized by a decision to ban this app.”

Contributors: Greta Cross, Karissa Waddick, Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen, Bailey Schulz, YSL News