The Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments on the government's TikTok ban next month, just days before it's supposed to take effect. If the Supreme Court upholds the ban, many of the 100,000 independent workers who rely on TikTok as either a primary job or a side gig could face devastating economic consequences.
The term "influencer" may elicit eye rolls, but whether these content creators are sharing do-it-yourself tips or mental health advice or merely pictures of a recent lunch outing, the entrepreneurship and income involved are real. U.S. labor laws have not kept up with the changing environment of work, and as a result, nontraditional workers are especially vulnerable to labor market shocks. It's time for reforms that incorporate the growing self-employed work force.
