A well-liked social media site is in the news not because of a popular video.
There's a discussion in both Canada and the U.S. about TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing service that has faced criticism for security issues.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a law on Wednesday that prohibits the app unless its owner in China sells its part. This news led to the revelation that the Canadian government ordered a review of national security of TikTok last September but did not share the investigation publicly.
For local content makers, the ongoing conflict leads to many questions about the future of the app.
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@sherry.mckay / TikTok
“40 percent of my followers are from the United States. Will I lose 40 percent of my audience? I don't know what it means for a Canadian user yet,” Sherry McKay, a TikTok user from Winnipeg, spoke to 680 CJOB’s about her worries. The Start.
McKay has a comedy-focused account, @sherry.mckay, with over 628,000 followers and more than 28 million likes. She will miss the platform if it's banned, but it won't impact her income.
“I enjoy it as a creative outlet and an educational tool, and for entertainment too. I learn a lot from a lot of people.
“At the start of the pandemic, I made content based on my experiences from a funny viewpoint, and people liked that. I also found relatable content from others.
“That's what it's about — finding relatable people on the same wavelength as you. Removing that will have a big impact.”
McKay is more concerned about her friends in the U.S. who will lose a lot of their income if the app is banned.
A spokesperson for the federal industry minister says the review last fall was because of the expansion of an earlier business, which they say counts as the start of a new Canadian entity.
The Chinese company would have more scrutiny under the new policy on foreign investments in the digital media sector.
