TikTok ban fuels anxiety among Georgia entrepreneurs

• Federal officials say China's government can use TikTok to harvest user data as material for misinformation — and it could spy on citizens by accessing their device's microphones or tracking keystrokes.

Zoom in: Atlanta real estate agent Glennda Baker told Axios her TikTok videos resulted in deals totaling $60 million in yearly revenue. As for data privacy concerns, she believes "the horse is out of the gate" because our information is harvested when we use apps or websites.

• She says TikTok's impact can't be duplicated on other dominant social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram because those sites typically cater to personal relationships.
• She also said obtaining brand awareness on those platforms or on X, formerly known as Twitter, required investments that are costly to small businesses.

By the numbers: TikTok's new economic impact report, which was generated based on a survey of businesses and app users, found local businesses' use of the platform for advertising and marketing contributed $750 million to Georgia's GDP in 2023.

• 300,000 businesses in the state and 5.4 million Georgians actively use TikTok, according to the report.
• More than 90% of Georgia's small businesses surveyed said they increased sales and sold out products with TikTok.

Threat level: Banning TikTok or forcing a sale could disrupt the U.S. media ecosystem and trigger economic tensions between the U.S. and its rivals, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.

State of play: TikTok filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Biden administration over the new law, alleging it negatively affects free speech among creators and businesses.

• The AJC reports an Atlanta-based beauty brand owner is also suing the U.S. government, alongside seven other social media creators, to block the law.

What they're saying: Desiree Hill of Crown's Corner Mechanics in Conyers told Marketplace the ban "would be detrimental" to her business because TikTok tripled her income in a year.

The intrigue: Former President Trump and his super PAC also joined TikTok this year, even though he spearheaded the ban initiative as president.

• Biden's campaign is also on TikTok as both sides try to appeal to young voters.

The bottom line: Marietta audiologist Melissa Wikoff says she built a large audience through TikTok. She fears the ban could impact her business and her donations to the community.

• "We want to sponsor and support our patients … so when TikTok helps me, it's also helping my community," she said.