ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For many TikTok is a hobby. For others it’s how they make a living.
TikTok influencers say an outright ban could put the businesses and communities they’ve built in jeopardy.
“We're in 2024, so its been [an unfortunate] four years now of this looming threat of TikTok getting banned,” says Caulin Donaldson.
Donaldson, a content creator, spoke with 10 Tampa Bay just minutes after the U.S. House passed a bill that could lead to the banning of the app in the United States.
The proud Pinellas county resident loves his home so much, he’s made keeping the beaches clean and beautiful his personal brand.
“I challenged myself to see if I can pick up trash every single day and i went for 500 days straight and ended up amassing around 2.2 million followers today,” Donaldson explained.
Millions of people now watch @TrashCaulin as he entertains and educates people on the importance of taking care of the environment.
Many of his videos focus on picking up litter on popular beach spots, or explaining how sand castles can prevent baby turtles from making it to the ocean. The app, for him, is a messaging tool he‘d hate to see go.
“TikTok was putting me in front of people who didn't know my name and weren't searching for me, but still giving them that opportunity to hear that message. And that's where I really felt that impact was happening,” Donaldson added.
For him its become his “dream” full-time job, same with Tampa’s Kat Stickler (@KatStickler).
“This is how I provide for my family,” said Stickler in an interview with 10 Tampa Bay.
Stickler has more than 10 million followers on the app and brand deals because of it. Getting her start in 2020, the now-social media star’s videos exploded in popularity, showing the funny, relatable, and emotional side to being a young woman and mom.
“I think I've been through a lot in a short amount of time, which has given me the blessing of connecting to a lot of different people in different areas of their life,” says Stickler, who says she's optimistic the app will stay online.
Though there’s worry on what could happen to that connection if TikTok is eventually banned. Stickler says she understands the security and content concerns lawmakers have, adding “If [congress] can regulate [the app] to make people more comfortable. I'm all for it. But I feel like people are also forgetting the lives that it impacts on the other hand.”
RELATED: House passes bill that would lead to a TikTok ban if Chinese owner doesn't sell. Senate path unclear
The bill now in the hands of the U.S. Senate wouldn’t outright ban TikTok right away, but force China to divest from the app in 6 months, or it will no longer be offered.
Garnering broad bipartisan support, lawmakers who voted in favor voiced concerns about data sharing with the Chinese government, which TikTok’s parent company denies.