TikTok is at an existential crossroads, facing an unprecedented global crackdown and a potential ban in the US – and TikTok creators are caught in the balance. The platform is under bipartisan scrutiny over allegations that its parent company ByteDance is influenced by the government of China, where it is based. But those concerns have yet to dull the public’s enthusiasm – with the app more popular than ever and now surpassing 150m active users in the US. The world of TikTok is unique and diverse, from people sharing videos of pets or conducting live ASMR shows, to building community around hobbies such as cooking and gardening. Creators have protested the ban outside Congress, saying it would diminish the ability to use TikTok to generate income, or as an educational and network-building tool. So how are these creators feeling about this moment? We asked a range of people to describe their experience on the app and what will happen if it goes away. Nathalie Adkins and her son, RJ Handle: @natlivingselfcare TikTok follower count: 53,300 followers Primary content: A cooking vlog in which Nathalie’s 9-year-old son RJ Nathan Phillips tries recipes from different cultures, sharing the process and results. How she and her son use TikTok: When I first got involved in TikTok, I was using it for information and tutorials. One day, my son said he wanted to make some noodles so I said, “OK, can I film you making some noodles?” It got such rave reviews, I started posting every time he cooks. It really brought him out of his shell because he’s neurodivergent and he’s not very expressive. Since we started this journey, all of a sudden he wants to do commentary, he wants to dance, he wants to plan his next video. The contrast has been amazing. It is easier to find community on TikTok. Now my son, a black boy from Los Angeles, has made 17 international dishes – it has connected him with communities of people from Armenia, Korea and China, that love him because he appreciates their culture. If anything were to happen to my son, as he grows into a young black man, I want people to see him as a human being. I want to know people will stand up for him. He won’t be alone. That’s why I do it. On how a ban would effect them: We will be OK, but it will make me feel some type of way about our government and my first amendment rights. It’s not just about TikTok, it is about how our elected officials are using their power to to keep us down. We will survive without TikTok, but it makes me anxious that they can take something like this away so quickly. On the wider impact: I have connected with a lot of Gen Z TikTokers who are ready to fight. It’s not just about TikTok – it’s about old people who don’t know anything about technology trying to restrict it. You’re going to turn a bunch of young people into political activists. Ross Pomerantz Handle: @corporate.bro TikTok follower count: 206,500 Primary content: Satirical videos about millennial corporate life How he uses TikTok: I got on TikTok about three years ago. I was like every millennial becoming the boomer they never thought they become – like, “This is for the kids. I don’t want to learn another platform.” But I put myself on and started making videos. It is fascinating because building a following doesn’t really matter – you can still go viral if you have no followers. So, in terms of making an income stream, it is less effort to make videos that perform well and in that regard, it’s been nice. It’s a great place to find new fans and gain new audiences. On how a ban would effect him: It would certainly hurt the the bottom line. But as a creator who uses multiple platforms, I won’t be as deeply impacted. It’s a great sandbox to play in, but the best content I make, I cross post. On the wider impact: I think the content creation style of TikTok will ultimately migrate to other platforms. People have assumed [the action against TikTok] has been a result of Meta lobbying – but I think YouTube will actually be the main benefactor. Who knows? Maybe a US-based copycat will pop up in TikTok’s place and we will be back where we started. People are going to be enraged for a few weeks like they are with any major issue. The question is: what they will do about it? Alexis Devine and Bunny the Dog Handle: @whataboutbunny TikTok follower count: 8.3m Primary content: Bunny the dog communicates with her caretakers using buttons that convey objects, ideas and feelings. How she uses TikTok: I started a TikTok account in early 2020 to document the success my dog Bunny was having communicating with programmable buttons. Developing an audience on TikTok happened very quickly and led to the development of a much larger community of humans using buttons to enable alternative methods of communication with their animal companions. Many of these people are now participants of a research study. I’m not sure that without TikTok that would have been possible. On how a ban would impact her: I make a little bit of money from the creator fund on TikTok. The loss of that income wouldn’t have a significant impact on my life at the moment, but as an independent contractor every little bit matters. On the wider impact: I don’t think there is a comparable platform at the moment and while creators and viewers will have no choice but to try and find other platforms and communities within which to thrive, it won’t be the same. I have learned so much from educational content on TikTok. Content that is niche, authentic, invaluable and the likes of which I haven’t found on other platforms. The loss of TikTok would be a huge blow not only to creators that depend on TikTok income, but also to me, a lifelong learner. Alexander Maupin Handle: @alex_makes1 TikTok follower count: 160,700 followers Primary content: Alexander produces a variety of content but has gained a large following for live videos in which they individually pop kernels of popcorn using a hair straightener. How they use TikTok: I do a little bit of everything. Last year, I was dealing with a lot of depression and anxiety and I came across another Live user who was popping popcorn, but it was very low-key and kind of an ASMR vibe. So I flipped the script and got colorful lights and a huge speaker. I just try to be as entertaining as possible. On how a ban would effect them: TikTok is more about community. I’ve met so many interesting people on TikTok with similar interests to me that I would have never met on Facebook or Instagram. If it disappeared, it would be really sad because I would lose a lot of friends overnight. On the wider impact: People are resilient – they will congregate somewhere else. There are 150m US users and that is going to give people a lot of idle time – it will be interesting to see what they will do with it. I think this will create more of a push for reform.