Thousands of Arizona businesses rely on TikTok: What happens if it’s banned? [Video]

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Arizona’s small businesses could face major disruptions as the potential national ban of TikTok draws near.

TikTok, which has become a key marketing tool for many small businesses, allows owners to directly reach potential customers through short videos, trends, and creative content.

According to TikTok, about 120,000 businesses in Arizona use the platform to market their products and services, including Kimberly Burke, a content creator who goes by the username “With Love from Kimberly.”

A ban on the app in the U.S. could negatively affect creators like Burke who rely on it.

“The ban was initiated based on concerns around national security, really emanating from the fact that TikTok, its parent company, is based in China,” said Jay Sampson, a senior lecturer at the University of Arizona.

Sampson added that critics worry that the Chinese government could use the app to influence U.S. users through its …