(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — On Sunday, TikTok users across the United States who tried to access the app got the same message, "TikTok is temporarily unavailable." However, hours later, the app was back up in running.
As uncertainty of a ban continues, Chicago creators are reflecting on what the app has done for them, local businesses and the music industry. Kevin White White says TikTok has "changed the trajectory" of his life.
"TikTok definitely helped me as an event curator and event host, being able to reach, you know, thousands of people in Chicago looking for new, unique things to do and be around like minded people."
White, a South Side native, posted his first TikTok video in March of 2023.
Since then, he's amassed nearly 124,000 followers on the app and has even started his own event company.
"It's transitioning to the point of me scaling and getting bigger and bigger and hiring people, you know, onto my team and whatnot. It wouldn't be possible without TikTok."
TikTok, he says, has "revolutionized social media and how it's consumed."
"Tiktok, the platform in itself, is an app for discovery or reachability, versus every other social media platform is more geared towards who you know and seeing those things."
White posts content about everything from how to navigate the corporate space, to must-try Chicago restaurants, the latter being something White says he says has had a huge impact on local businesses.
"The massive amount of money that has generated through TikTok for small businesses, big businesses, your community in itself. People don't really see that, but they'll feel it, you know, as time goes on."
For example, he says in 2023, one of his first restaurant reviews, for Hide + Seek in the West Loop, got about 60,000 views overnight.
"Let them know Kevin White sent you. Go to Hide + Seek," he said in the TikTok
"Then I went there the next week, and they said hundreds of people came in over that past week, and they're like, ‘Kevin White sent us. Kevin White sent us.’"
So he says a TikTok ban could present a challenge for local businesses, as well as the creators who help give them exposure.
"There's going to be tens and hundreds of businesses in Chicago, restaurants that will definitely be affected. So maybe that's an opportunity for new creators to really push on other platforms to, you know, help our communities out."
Chicago-based indie-rock band Capital Soiree has used TikTok to help promote their music, and as the app goes dark they share how they think the ban could impact the music industry.
"I definitely knew some people who really, like, kind of got full fledged careers off the app," said James Kourafas, who is one of the four members that makes up Capital Soiree.
Kourafas said there's no denying the impact TikTok had on so many artists' careers. They know first-hand how TikTok can impact artists' careers.
Dean Sinclair says their most viewed TikTok videos directly correlated to listeners on Spotify.
"We were already like, on tour, and there were people like, coming up to us, being like, I saw that video of you guys days ago, which is just like to us that was so crazy," Sinclair said.
He said the band had a bit of a love-hate relationship with TikTok.
"Sometimes it's fun, but other times it does feel, you know… you put a lot of work and you don't, maybe get a result you wanted. But we have had some success on there. At least for our standards, for sure, and it's led to your opportunities for us, no doubt."
And for many artists, TikTok was a full-time job. James Kourafas said the ban could hurt these artist who relied on their TikTok audience.
"I think that's maybe the concern is, you know, these people, these artists, who's who've built their career kind of centered around that app.... may just completely lose contact with all those people?"
Max Romero said though the ban could potentially hurt artists, it's also an opportunity to experiment with other ways of self-promotion.
"It's all about adapting. I think of advertising yourself and trying to get people to see you. It's always a creative game, you know. We’re just gonna all have to figure something else out."
White recommends that creators continue to keep their current connections and find other creative ways to generate exposure for businesses.
"I encourage people, tap into their communities to make sure that they're still connecting and helping each other out, as far as you know, driving that traffic?"
And as for what's next, White says he doesn't really know. Several months ago, when reports came out that TikTok might be gone in the U.S., he started migrating to Instagram, something he advises other creators to do as well.
"I tell any, like, creator that has amassed some level of following that didn't diversify, to always think about that. The biggest thing for me, just seeing this, you know, come to fruition, if it does, is just to make sure that all your eggs aren't in one basket."
Still, though, White says he doesn't think anything will quite measure up to TikTok.
"It's going to leave its lasting impression. But I don't think anything could fill the void.”
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky