WEEK-TV recently interviewed Pearl Technology’s Anthony Mini as part of a story on the TikTok ban under consideration by the Supreme Court. Check it out!
Central Illinois TikTok creators face uncertain future amid looming ban
Published: Jan. 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM CST
PEORIA (25News Now) – The clock is ticking for TikTok as the Supreme Court decides whether to uphold a law banning the social media platform if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell it by Jan. 19.
Central Illinois small businesses and food bloggers with hundreds of thousands of followers await the high court’s decision.
One of those business owners is Judy Wang, who runs a restaurant in Galesburg. 25News told her story nearly a month ago. She said TikTok and other social media platforms increased her business by up to 50%.
“TikTok has helped, you know, helped reach people who come from all over the state and the U.S.,” said Wang.
While the fate of TikTok remains in limbo, Wang is keeping a positive outlook.
“It’s no matter for me because we’re not only on TikTok. We make business from a little bit [of the app] but not a bunch; our business is mostly local,” said Wang.
Back in Peoria, food TikToker Seth Boyer told 25news that TikTok was a beacon of hope for his career.
He gained over 82,000 followers on the platform, which has helped him pursue acting.
“I have directors that reach out to me for auditions based on my follower count because it is such a useful tool for getting more eyes on a project or any product,” explained Boyer.
Boyer admitted that the looming ban took a brief toll on his passion for content creation, but added that no matter the app’s fate, he would continue spotlighting the food scene and TV and film tips on Instagram and YouTube.
While creators are hopeful the app will be saved at the last minute, Anthony Mini, the president and CISO at Pearl Technology, said the app’s potential ban is a security measure.
“It’s the U.S. as a whole, right, so it’s not just one individual. We’re part of a bigger group, and there’s a bigger impact when you start aggregating all of this data, what people are consuming, and what information is true or not,” said Mini
Mini believes that if the ban stays, TikTok users looking for a substitute need to be careful.
“They’re going to get inundated with a lot of fake apps, and people trying to capitalize on this opportunity that people are looking for TikTok,” said Mini.
Mini advised that those who are app hopping should enable two-factor authentication, read through the terms and services, and use an email not linked to sensitive information like bank accounts.
He also said to steer clear of VPNs to access TikTok.
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LINK: https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/01/15/local-tiktok-creators-face-uncertain-future-amid-looming-ban/
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