What is the future of TikTok in the UK?
Despite us only being 4 months into 2024, this year has been an absolute rollercoaster for social media but TikTok potentially being BANNED… now that takes the cake.
With this controversial news, we asked our followers over on LinkedIn, what they thought of the potential ban of TikTok. 50% felt that TikTok should be banned for under 16s and 15% voted that TikTok should be banned altogether.
With these stats in mind, we’ll be breaking down exactly what is going on with TikTok and how we think the changes will affect businesses that rely on influencer and digital marketing strategies.
Is TikTok banned in the UK?
To put it simply, No. Tiktok is currently up and running in the UK with no changes to be expected soon. This means that British-based businesses relying heavily on TikTok to promote and sell their products or services will be able to do so for the foreseeable future - PHEW! It’s not looking great for our friends across the pond though…
Is TikTok banned in the U.S?
Since 2020, TkTok has been living rent-free in the American government’s head. While we don’t have the word count to include every update in the timeline of TikTok’s banning, here are the most important bits & bobs we think you should know from 2023 to the present:
March 1st, 2023: The US House of Foreign Affairs committee votes to give Biden approval to Ban Tiktok.
March 7th, 2023: A group of US senators introduced the RESTRICT Act. This proposed legislation provides the federal government abilities to restrict and ban technology made in China. This, unfortunately, included TikTok.
March 23rd, 2023: During a five-hour hearing, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew testifies in front of Congress. He champions TikTok’s commitment to security and free speech. He was extensively questioned about the safety and security of Tiktok’s data Privacy.
April 14th, 2023: Montana leads the way and becomes the first state to approve a full, state-wide ban on TikTok. It was reported that if accepted, this wouldn’t take effect until January 2024. However, this move was highly criticised and labelled as ‘performative’ by the wider public.
March 7th, 2024: Almost a year after the first mention of a TikTok ban, speculations and requests continue from the government and public as a US House committee passes a unanimous measure to include the banning of Tiktok as part of a national security bill.
This was filed under the knowledge that there were unresolved security and privacy concerns regarding Databyte, TikTok’s Parent company. The White House publicly released that Biden would sign the bill if it reached the White House desk.
March 13th, 2024: The US House of Representatives votes 352-52 to move forward with banning TikTok. This bill is to be moved onto the Senate where it will face a ferocious and extended debate.
What does this mean for small businesses on TikTok?
Well first, we’d like to note that the headlines of TikTok being ‘banned’ are very misleading. While it is a possibility for the app, it’s a possibility that will take place very far into the future. The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate, this is a process that would take months… dare we say it, even years!
That being said, if the bill were passed, it would be devastating for small businesses and content creators, effectively killing their livelihood. TikTok provides amazing reach for businesses that don’t have access to a massive marketing budget. A viral piece of content could reach millions. Not only that but TikTok’s e-commerce capabilities have helped small businesses achieve a staggering 14.7 billion in business revenue. It would be highly disappointing for American users to have this free marketing tool stripped from their devices. - It’s important to note that the government will consider this when making their decision
While the outcome of the ban is still uncertain, we suggest that American business owners utilise TikTok as much as possible. Continue to build your following and reputation for your products and services as usual. Do not allow this potential ban to stop you from continuing to achieve amazing results for your business in the meantime.
