TikTok users received a message on January 18th stating that the app would be voluntarily shutting down. The ban was introduced by President Donald Trump during his last term in 2020 over privacy concerns and was later signed into office on April 24th, 2024 by former president Biden.
TikTok has nearly 170 million American users who were sent into shock when the pop up came through. TikTok creator Skylar Larson said that talk of banning this app had been floating around in the air. Therefore many people did not think it would go through, but when it did, it did not only eliminate a source of entertainment for millions but also the jobs of creators just like Larson.
Skylar Larson, an IU TikTok creator, explains why she finds TikTok helpful on not only a personal but also professional level.
Larson began making videos during high school, and then when she came to IU she started to get more serious about making short form content. One element of TikTok that makes it so unique is its way to connect influencers, like Larson, to people who can connect with her over life experiences.
As Larson said, she made videos providing advice for incoming college freshman. This type of content resonates with audience members because it is a common experience; to feel stressed and confused about entering a new environment.
This is where influencers like Larson can provide followers with comfort. Larson can see this from the influencer and the follower perspective. She has influencers she follows that bring her comfort, especially as a child she found comfort in watching her favorite social media stars. Growing up as an only child, Larson would find connections with the influencers she followed as a kid.
She continues to make parasocial relationships with influencers as her followers make these relationships with her. A parasocial relationship or interaction is when an audience feels that they know the influencer on a personal level, even when the influencer does not know who the audience is. Social media has made this type of relationship common. This is due to influencers having the opportunity to share videos like “A Day in My Life” where they show everything they do throughout the day.
Larson explains why TikTok is so unique and what her plans are if it is permanently banned.
President Trump gave TikTok’s owner ByteDance a 75-day extension on January 20th to find a new buyer. When this was announced, TikTok was back up and running, returning scrollers to their favorite creators and allowing creators to make content.
However, those who deleted the app during the shut down, could not download it because it was not available on the app store. Later, on February 13th, the app made its reappearance on the store after Apple and Google confirmed it would not be penalized for having it available.
It appears as if TikTok is back to it’s normal operations, but the end result is still up in the air. As Larson said, TikTok’s algorithm is unique because it is timely and ultra specific. If the app was to find a new buyer, the possibility of replicating this algorithm is slim. This leaves users to either find a new app, like Instagram Reels, or come to terms with the new algorithm.
This is a developing story, and as it continues, we will keep you updated.
