LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A group of prominent Las Vegas content creators weighed in on the impact of the TikTok bill passing Congress.
They have expressed concern that if passed, the bill would have a far-reaching impact on entrepreneur income and small businesses throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Influencers, content creators, social media managers and businesses have expressed concerns about worst-case scenarios surrounding the bill's passage, which supporters say are unfounded. If the company is forced to sell and cannot find a U.S. buyer, app stores will no longer allow downloads of TikTok, leaving 170 million Americans unable to use the app.
FOX5 caught up with Philip Tzeng, also known as LasVegasFill, Damian Ocampo, also known as HookedLV, and Talia Edralin, also known as Tallzz. Together, the three have around 2 million followers on the TikTok app alone.
FOX5 has covered the viral success phenomenon brought to Las Vegas restaurants by social media, as local content creators and influencers often bring attention to small businesses in the Las Vegas suburbs. Chinatown businesses have seen a noticeable increase in tourist visits thanks to social media posts and promotions.
“I can definitely say that there are a lot of businesses that wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for TikTok, because they wouldn't have that kind of spotlight and wouldn't have the means to share their story and their business. Is it? It's hard to imagine what would happen without it,” Tseng said.
“Fortunately, I was able to build other platforms and gain a good following. [TikTok] “If it were to go away, I think it would just be scarier for the small businesses that would be affected,” Ocampo said.
Small businesses across Las Vegas rely on the foot traffic generated by posts from various social media managers and content creators.
Most of Edralin's business comes from her TikTok account.
“When I manage a client, I usually run their TikTok page, which means I can't make money from my videos anymore because I'll probably lose 99% of my business.” Edralin said.
Congressman Stephen Horsford issued a statement voting against the bill, citing concerns about the impact on small businesses.
“This law would result in a mandatory ban on TikTok if the required divestitures are not made within the prescribed deadline. I oppose the ban because it will benefit hundreds of millions of American users, especially those who rely on this platform to grow their business.” Because it impacts more than 28,000 small businesses in the state and millions of individual users in the Silver State who use… This could have a devastating impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses in Nevada and across the country who rely on this platform. ”
Congresswoman Dina Titus voted yes and released the following statement to FOX5:
“I am committed to protecting Americans' privacy rights and national security. The Department of Justice, Director of National Intelligence, and National Security Council have all made clear the threat posed by ByteDance, which owns TikTok. ByteDance is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and claims that the Chinese government collects sensitive data, exploits app users, and influences America's political and social perceptions of foreign adversaries. It allows them to further their goals. The bill does not ban social media platforms, but it does give TikTok six months to withdraw funds from ByteDance. I understand the concerns of influencers who rely on TikTok. TikTok has become an important tool for companies to promote their services and as a hub for self-expression and free speech. We believe there is a way to support the professionals who post on this platform without sacrificing the
Congresswoman Susie Lee voted in favor and released the following statement to FOX5:
“As long as TikTok remains Chinese-owned, our national security is at risk as the Chinese government, an enemy of the United States, has the ability to collect the personal data of our children and citizens. It does not prohibit the Chinese government from accessing the personal information of millions of Americans.”
A spokesperson for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto released the following statement to FOX5:
“Senator Cortez Masto believes that TikTok's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party is deeply concerning and that more information is needed about how the app is distributing the large amount of data it collects. She is currently reviewing this particular legislation.”
A spokesperson for Sen. Jacky Rosen released the following statement to FOX5:
“Senator Rosen recognizes that TikTok has become a popular and widely used platform across the United States. She also acknowledges that TikTok has become a popular and widely used platform across the United States. She also believes we must do more to protect Nevadans' data from. We are currently considering the proposal.”
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