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TikTok is Back! Here’s How Texas Influencers Reacted and Helped Cause Change

tiktok ban - tiktok is back

TikTok Returns: Texas Influencers React to End of U.S. Ban

TikTok is back! TikTok announced Sunday that it would be restoring service to U.S. users after a brief outage the evening prior, citing assurances from President-elect Donald Trump. The social media giant, which serves over 170 million Americans and supports more than 7 million small businesses, had initially blocked access in response to legal uncertainties surrounding its continued operation.In a statement posted on X, TikTok said, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to the American public.”TikTok lauded the move as a victory for free speech, adding, “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

Hours before TikTok’s shutdown, Trump took to Truth Social to express his support for the platform, calling for its availability to broadcast his inauguration on Monday. He also announced plans to issue an executive order granting a 90-day extension on a law set to ban the app, allowing time to negotiate a resolution that addresses national security concerns.

TikTok’s gradual return on Sunday began with limited access via web browsers, expanding to broader usability later in the day. Users were greeted with a welcome-back message highlighting Trump’s efforts to keep the platform operational. However, the app remained unavailable for download from Apple’s and Google’s app stores as of Sunday evening.

The ban stemmed from legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April, mandating that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest ownership to a non-Chinese buyer. Initially supportive of the ban, both the Biden and incoming Trump administrations have recently shifted their stances, signaling a willingness to preserve the platform under certain conditions.

During his campaign, Trump, who once advocated for a TikTok ban during his presidency, reversed course, pledging to save the app.

Background on the TikTok Ban

In 2024, U.S. lawmakers raised alarms about TikTok’s potential to compromise national security, citing fears that ByteDance could share American users’ data with the Chinese government. As tensions between the U.S. and China escalated, the app was banned nationwide in May 2024, leaving millions of creators and fans without access to the platform.

The absence of TikTok pushed many influencers to diversify their platforms, but for some, it was a struggle. Texas, home to a thriving community of content creators, saw creators pivoting to alternatives like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and emerging platforms. However, none managed to fully replicate TikTok’s reach and cultural impact.

Real Reactions from Texas Influencers

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law last week that could effectively ban TikTok in the U.S., creating uncertainty for many Texas-based influencers and social media professionals. The ruling prioritizes national security and data privacy concerns over a First Amendment challenge to the legislation, which targets the short-form video platform used by approximately 170 million Americans.

TikTok had announced plans to shut down its U.S. operations by the Sunday deadline set by the law. However, President-elect Donald Trump stated he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve once he takes office, as reported by NBC News. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”

This decision has left many Austin influencers in limbo, questioning the future of their careers as content creators.

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How Texas Influencers Reacted to the Ban

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Texas-based influencers have expressed a mix of frustration, sadness, and determination to adapt. Many highlighted the app’s unique community-building capabilities and its significant role in their livelihoods. Below are reactions shared with the Austin American-Statesman:

Courtney Johnson (@courtney..johnson):

  • Johnson, who started on TikTok in 2020 and has 272,200 followers, credits the platform’s algorithm for her success: “There is a discoverability in the algorithm that allows for community creation in a way that we literally have never seen before with technology. It’s really, really incredible how, you know, it brings people to you that share similar values or have similar interests.” Over 30% of her income comes from TikTok brand deals, and she expressed concerns about the potential impact of a ban: “It’s definitely jarring. I’m confident that I’ll be able to pivot, because I don’t have another choice. I’m trying to stay positive about it. I am sad that I’ll be losing over 270,000 people that follow me. That’s such a big part of my community; that’s a big part of my business.”

Jane Ko (@atasteofkoko):

  • Ko, the creator of A Taste of Koko, has 168,000 TikTok followers and highlighted the platform’s unparalleled growth potential: “It took me 10 years to get to 100,000 followers on Instagram. On TikTok, it took me like six months. The views and followers were exponentially faster.” While TikTok isn’t her main revenue source, Ko worries about the impact on small businesses she features: “It’s going to be just detrimental for a lot of small businesses. It’s just so exciting when I can post about a local restaurant and it goes viral on TikTok, and they’re booked for months, and you just don’t get that with Instagram.”

Paulina Perez (@pauulinaperez):

  • Perez, a full-time content creator with 161,000 followers, shared how TikTok has influenced her creativity and everyday life: “For me, TikTok has become more than just a social platform. It’s a search engine when I’m planning a trip or looking for dining spots, a hub for artistic inspiration when I’m feeling uninspired, and a place to discover new music and breaking news.” Perez worries about the broader implications of a ban: “What scares me is how can we be sure that in a few years the same thing won’t happen to these other platforms? The landscape of social media is constantly shifting, and that’s something we have to account for. … Social media has become such a vital space, especially for women as it’s a woman-dominated field. And it’s disheartening to see a platform where a lot of us have found success and communities potentially taken away.”

Payton Cavin (@mellowyellowpay):

  • Cavin, who creates travel and lifestyle content, shared how a ban could impact her income and brand partnerships: “The ban is going to have a greater impact on the economy as a whole than many people truly realize. I’m deeply saddened about the community and hard work I will be losing if the ban does happen. … I have already had brands reach out to shift partnership deliverables that included TikTok, and while I’m still unsure it will actually happen, it’s incredibly stressful and frightening to think everything could change this weekend in just an instant.”

Bella Rose Mortel (@beehiiv):

  • Mortel, a social media strategist, emphasized TikTok’s role in shaping trends and cultural conversations: “I feel like so many trends and cultural conversations that we have start on TikTok. … In my role, I’ll see a TikTok trend going crazy, and then I will go tweet about it, or go put it on LinkedIn, because I know that the Twitter people and the LinkedIn people haven’t seen it yet, and it was kind of an advantage.”

Perhaps it is this kind of outcry that resulted in the ban being reversed and TikTok coming back online over the weekend?

Despite the uncertainty, many are preparing to pivot, exploring alternatives like Instagram, YouTube, and emerging apps such as RedNote. Still, the sentiment across the board is clear: TikTok’s potential ban represents a seismic shift in the creator economy and digital community-building.

These influencers, among others, represent the wave of creators eager to rebuild their communities on TikTok. Many have already begun posting content celebrating the app’s return, sparking renewed excitement among followers.

Why Is TikTok Back?

The Biden administration announced late Saturday night that TikTok would be reinstated following extensive negotiations with ByteDance. To address privacy concerns, ByteDance implemented new measures, including:

Establishing U.S.-based data storage centers monitored by third-party organizations.
Agreeing to routine audits of its data-handling practices.
Creating transparency protocols to share compliance efforts with the public.

Looking Ahead

The platform’s return will undoubtedly reinvigorate the digital landscape, but experts note that TikTok still faces scrutiny. Lawmakers have emphasized that any breaches of the new security policies could lead to renewed challenges.

For creators, however, the future looks bright. Texas influencers are already planning fresh content strategies and encouraging followers to re-engage.

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