Jazz Thornton: Influencer and mental health advocate reveals how online celebrities address TikTok uncertainty

Online stars are scrambling to change platforms amid uncertainty about TikTok.

The Chinese social media platform 'went dark' yesterday because of a US ban that aimed to force its sale to a neutral party. 

Access is being restored after Donald Trump promised to delay enforcement.

TikTok influencer and mental health advocate, Jazz Thornton, says the US ban affects New Zealanders by reducing engagement. 

She says she's diversified by using YouTube.

"For security - but also to be able to continue to reach the people that we do. There's so much uncertainty with all kinds of social media that you can't put everything in one basket."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
All right.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
TikTok users in the USA had a bit of a
rollercoaster ride this morning. The app started functioning or stopped functioning.
At first, there was a pop up message that said
this is because of the impending band by the US government,
who's very worried about mining of data by China. Then
about twelve hours later it was back. In coming President
Donald Trump says, I'm going to arrange for TikTok's parent company,

(00:23):
byte Dance, to become part of American owned. It's all good,
We've sorted it, says Donald. Mental health advocate jas Thornton
is on the TikTok and joins you now, Hella Jazz, Hey,
how many followers you got?

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Uh? On one account, I got two point three or
two point four million, I think, and then another account
with another million on it.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Does that blow your mind?

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yea? Sometimes?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Can you make money from that two point four million
people who like to look at what you say on TikTok?

Speaker 1 (00:51):
Ah? Yeah, you definitely can, but not compared to what
the Americans can make. They're actually getting paid for the
purviews on the New Zealanders don't get that.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Why don't we get that?

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Because we're not in the Creator Fund, which is ridiculous,
but it's Yeah, it's America, and I think Canada or
that are inert, but not US.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
So if TikTok stops, do you lose lots of moody.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
I don't personally, but I think a lot of creators do.
I mean, it'll definitely affect our engagement and our ability
to be able to do like ad campaigns and stuff
like that. But yeah, it's not compared to what America
is going to be hit with.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Should the Wes be worried about China owning TikTok and
mining for our data like exactly how we like to
stroke our dogs?

Speaker 1 (01:32):
No, not at all. I think if the US were
genuinely concerned about data security, they would have banned things
like timu. This is entirely a money control thing. A
whole lot of the Senates that voted yes on the
bill have stocks and Meta and Meta was losing billions
of dollars because all eyes were on TikTok. So they're
trying to make it out to be this whole thing
about with security, but it's not. If it's about that,

(01:54):
then they would have banned so many other things first.
So I don't think we have to worry about that.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
And of course, because there's so much money involved, as
soon as you say TikTok stopped, another one will pop up.
It's like whack a mole. Have you ever heard about
Red Note?

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Oh? Yes, I downloaded Red Note as soon as all
this started happening.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Is it any good?

Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh? Not really. I mean a lot of it's in Chinese,
But to be honest, it was pretty much just a
lot of people trying to go against the US government
and Meta because they knew that this band was coming
from that, so they will like, screw you, We'll get
our data directly to the Chinese, which I thought was
quite funny. So I joined on that as well.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
So you're putting your stuff on YouTube shorts, now I understand.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yes, yeah, I think it's for security, but also, you know,
to be able to continue to reach the people that
we do. There's so much uncertainty with all kind of
social media that you can't put everything in one basket.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
So has the don saved TikTok? Do you think it's
gone or is it going to stay?

Speaker 1 (02:46):
He was the one that initiated the band in twenty twenty.
He was the person that put this thing into play,
so I think it's I think it's going to stay,
but I think they, probably, to be honest, have already
sold it. I think this whole thing has been a ployee.
So yeah, I think it's not going anywhere, but it
won't be the same as.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
What it was. Jazz what's your handle?

Speaker 1 (03:06):
Jazz Thornton, underscore.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Jazz Thornton, the whole thing underscored.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
No, just Jazz Thornton and then a underscore a.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
Little because is there another Jazz Thornton?

Speaker 1 (03:16):
I know, but I have another account called not jas Thornton,
which is my silly one that blew up in America.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Okay, yeah, so you need the underscore, Okay, yeah, apparently
it's all good. I'm on Twitter X whatever that's called.
I'm Andrew Dickens two and I'm not Oh, there we go.
I haven't found the Andrew Dickens one yet and I
want to talk to that man. I thank you for
your time today, Jazz No Worries.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
Thank you for more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen
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