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.
Handle: @corporate.broTikTok follower count: 206,500Primary content: Satirical videos about millennial corporate life
Handle: @whataboutbunnyTikTok follower count: 8.3mPrimary 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.
Handle: @alex_makes1TikTok follower count: 160,700 followersPrimary 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.
Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
