"I went live and just said to them," Hey, I'm not sure what's going on, but make me happy and follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube, "said Pannell at CNN Business. "Everyone was like 'Parker, I love your videos. I will miss you.' Everyone was in panic mode. "
Pannell, as well as others on the shortened video platform, suspected that the disappearances of likes and the number of views had something to do with reports that TikTok could be banned in the U.S. creators' concern that months or years of building a suite could be for nothing. "I'm scared because I've been working hard on this platform for almost two years now. Obviously it's hard to see it go," saidPannell, which has much smaller subscriptions on YouTube and Instagram.
The missing views on the app on Thursday turned out to be a problem, which, according to TikTok, appears to have been caused by "higher than normal traffic to our servers in Virginia, causing temporary service interruptions".
But a ban remains a possibility. Since the Trump administration announced it was "considering" banning TikTok and other Chinese-owned platforms, the app has exploded with a mixture of fear and fun videos about the potential action. Adding fuel to the fire is India's recent decision to ban TikTok, home to some of the platform's best stars, as well as other popular Chinese apps, saying they pose a "threat to the sovereignty and integrity. " However, several security experts were more cautious about this assessment.
Despite the jokes, a ban could have major consequences for the creators of the platform, especially those who try to transform it into a lucrative career through offers of sponsored content, the sale of goods and other sources of income. TikTok star Keegan Ousley,said the threat of a ban was "scary" and that it worried about his future on social media.
If TikTok were to disappear in the United States, Ousley said he hoped his supporters would follow him on other social platforms.
As a precaution, some influencers already encourage their fans to follow them on social networks including Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and even Reddit. Several TikTokers have updated their biography with "IN CASE OF PROHIBITION OF TIKTOK - follow me on YouTube and INSTA" or "IF TIK / TOK IS PROHIBITED ON MY IG / TWITTER [handle name]. "
"I would love to continue making funny videos on the platform, without any concern for mine or the privacy of others," she said. "I think it's important to pause and laugh for a moment during such an uncertain and serious period in the world."