TikTok Influencers Mourn Supreme Court’s Ruling to Shut Down Platform
TikTok influencers are in an uproar after the Supreme Court upheld a law to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media platform unless it is sold in the United States. Emily Senn, a popular voice on the app, broke down in tears and expressed her disappointment, saying she will “never forgive” the US government for taking away millions of people’s income and livelihood.
Senn, who lost her job as a cruise ship singer during the pandemic, credits TikTok with supporting her financially and providing a sense of community over the past three years. Other popular accounts, including Madilynn Cameron, who has amassed over 1 million followers on TikTok, are devastated and angry about the news.
Cameron asked her followers to remain “calm and hopeful” that President Biden or President-elect Donald Trump will intervene, citing the government’s priorities and saying that the country is “a laughingstock to other countries.”
Kelsey Pumel, a popular social media star and content creator, released a video titled “Goodbye freedom of speech,” in which she questioned the government’s priorities and expressed frustration that the country cares more about TikTok than addressing pressing issues such as education, healthcare, and housing.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision came just two days before the bipartisan divestiture law is set to take effect. The court wrote that Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.
Many influencers have expressed their outrage and disappointment, with some vowing to take action to save the platform. The fate of TikTok remains uncertain, as President-elect Trump has signaled support for the app in recent months.