Last year, a small business owner named Joshua Lucas shared his fears with his TikTok followers about the potential ban of the platform. Lucas, who runs Crystal Pacifica, an online seller of gems and minerals, credited TikTok for his business' success. Since joining TikTok in 2021, his revenues grew significantly, reaching over $700,000 in 2022.
Lucas expressed concerns about losing his community and the financial stability he had achieved through TikTok. With the possibility of a ban looming, he worried about where he would pivot to reach customers, as he hadn't built a large following on other platforms like Instagram.
