Kimberly Hilton, also known as "Chemical Kim," isn't your average Chemistry teacher. The Florida Southwestern Professor posts science experiments to TikTok, where she's gained 1.5 million followers from all over the globe.
"I've just been crazy passionate about science education and really just hoping that the next generation won't lose that curiosity of wanting to explore the world," Hilton said.
She's big on other social media platforms, too, but says there's nothing like the TikTok community. Her comments section is filled with positivity and people genuinely interested in science. She read us some examples: "122 comments on this video I posted yesterday. 'This was amazing.' 'Thank you, but will that work with ethyl alcohol?' 'Wonderful content.'"
However, on Instagram and Facebook, her comment section is more hateful.
"I posted a video and got 98 comments on Facebook. The top comment is, 'this dude needs a barber,'" Hilton said.
The Almadovar family from Cape Coral also has a huge presence on the app. With more than 2 million followers, the "SWAGmodovars" post skits - spreading laughter, family values, and positivity.
"I love to entertain people, have conversations, and make people laugh," Jorge Almadovar said. "We have a very dynamic family and we just felt people need to see a bit of what we do because it's not ordinary."
Like many creators, social media has become the family's main source of income.
"Do I feel like it is wrong to ban it? Yes, because people have made a living. Businesses have made a living," Almadovar said.
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether a law that could ban TikTok in the United States will take effect on Sunday, Jan. 19. If enforced, TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, will be required to sell its U.S. operations to avoid the ban.
The U.S. government argues TikTok poses a national security threat because it's owned by a Chinese company.
"According to Chinese Intelligence law, if TikTok comes up with any kind of intelligence data, they must turn it over to the Chinese government," Florida Gulf Coast Law Professor Pamella Seay said.
Seay says TikTok's argument that the ban is a violation of free speech likely won't hold up. However, she doesn't think the app will be erased from your phone.
"More likely than not, TikTok will sell the U.S. portions to a U.S. company so it will continue to operate, and TikTok will still receive money from that app."
The one thing ByteDance will likely not want to sell, however, is its algorithm.
"So a lot of those things you currently get in your feed, they're probably not going to be quite as good as they are now, but they'll be close," Seay said.
Still, it's hard to know what the court will decide. If the app is taken away for good, creators like Chemical Kim say they will miss it.
"That's where I get a little sad because I have built such a beautiful community of people on TikTok. I think the connections I have made as a scientist and as a science education have only made me better in my job and in my daily interactions."
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