'We started a brand from it.' Norwalk influencers react to possible TikTok ban

Ling and Lamb started their account in 2020 and went viral. Their videos have over a billion views.

Alexa Farrell and Rose Shannon

Mar 13, 2024, 9:22 PM

Updated 285 days ago

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While lawmakers consider a ban on TikTok, a Norwalk couple with over 4 million followers says the app has changed their lives.
Ling and Lamb started their account in 2020 and went viral.
Their videos have over a billion views.
"We started a brand from it. We've traveled different places because of it, and we've built a really beautiful community, not just here in Connecticut but around the country and around the world," says Ling.
The pair says their videos have allowed them to help their community.
"All the the food videos we support on TikTok, that is our own way of supporting local restaurants," says Lamb.
The House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that would demand the Chinese company ByteDance sell TikTok or the app would be banned in the United States.
Lawmakers are concerned about the risk to national security.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) says he voted against the bill.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Himes said, "As a ranking member of the Intelligence Committee I have more insight than most into the online treats posed by our adversaries. We trust our citizens to be worthy of their democracy. We do not trust our government to decide what information they may or may not see."
The app is used by more 150 million Americans.
TikTok has said it has never shared data from the U.S. with the Chinese government and would not do so if asked.
If passed by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden, ByteDance would have to sell TikTok in six months to a company approved by the U.S. government.
If this doesn't happen, it would be become illegal for the app to be distributed or updated in the U.S.