Kentucky business owners prepare for potential TikTok ban

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – TikTok has lost its bid to strike down a law that would lead to it getting banned in the U.S.

In a ruling Friday afternoon, a U.S. Appeals Court denied TikTok’s argument that the law was unconstitutional.

Now TikTok’s Chinese parent-company must find a buyer for the platform, or be banned from the U.S. starting January 19th.

Many business owners are already preparing to the lose the app, and any advertising and income that comes with it.

“Well my Kentucky friends, looks like our time is drawing to an end here on TikTok,” said Rick Paynter in a recent uploaded video.

With close to 60 thousand followers and more than one million likes on TikTok, Rick Paynter’s ‘Shop Local Kentucky’ has reached people not only across the Commonwealth, but across the country.

“There’s opportunity here beyond this and what we’ve thought about is long form content to highlight other small business, But with it going away, we’re just uncertain how we’re going to get eyes on these sort of products.”

TikTok has become a way for people to advertise to and connect with clients they might not have been able to reach otherwise. But with the app now set to potentially be banned, some small business owner fear this could have a big impact.

“Attention is the currency always. No matter what. So wherever the attention goes, is where the business owners need to go in my opinion. TikTok has had a ton of attention on it, so obviously if you’re a local business and want that local connection, it gives you a different way to connect with your customers, talk to them and sell to them.”

Paynter said other platforms, like Instagram and Facebook, just aren’t as favorable for business.

“It’s almost as if it takes the pressure and cranks it up on small business owners and especially pushes them towards more paid options on Instagram and Facebook.”

You can find links to Paynter’s business, The Kentucky Shop here.

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