Reaction to potential TikTok ban

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Time could be ticking for the popular app, House Lawmakers approved a new bill on Saturday that would force the sale of TikTok in nine months or be banned, as part of a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

It is estimated the app has had a $24.2-billion-dollar impact on the U.S. Economy, with 170 million American users and seven million businesses on the app who use it for sales and growth.

ABC57's Jackie Bauer set out to the Eddy Street Commons to hear what people out and about Monday afternoon were thinking.

"There's just too many people from all walks of life who really love it and enjoy it. Rather it's dancing or teaching, so I think we just need to check out the ownership of that, and if it can be made safe... I think we should keep TikTok,” said Joan Harvath.

IU Media Law Professor, Anthony Fargo, shared how this bill is different than the one passed by the House in March.

“The Senate had not been particularly excited about the original TikTok ban that passed a while back, while so by attaching the TikTok ban to this particular aid bill, it makes it more likely the ban will go through,” said Fargo.

He says this bill may be more attractive to the Senate, giving ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, 270 days to find a U.S. owner.

ByteDance says it will take legal action, and users may follow suit if the bill passes.

“We’re kind of in uncharted water about what kind of legal charges TikTok could take about any legislation that does pass," added Fargo.

But the app isn’t going anywhere just yet as it could be nine months or more to see the ban take effect, even if the bill is passed.