Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis TikTok creators brace for impact of looming ban
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Unless the United States Supreme Court steps in, a ban on the social media platform TikTok will take effect on Sunday.
The court has yet to rule on whether it will pause the law banning TikTok from taking effect. As of Thursday morning, the court has not scheduled any other dates to release opinions.
The uncertainty is leaving Indianapolis TikTokers, like Summer Hudson, bracing for impact.
She’s a realtor and goes by @findalottolove on TikTok. A licensed agent for eight years, she’s been posting tours of Indianapolis-area houses for sale since the pandemic.
“When I heard about the TikTok ban, I immediately panicked,” Hudson said.
Four years — and more than 220,000 followers later — the relator says TikTok has opened many doors for her. She’s seen so much business come in that since she started posting, her agency has grown significantly.
“I was actually unprepared for how much it impacted my business,” Hudson said. “I was almost scrambling because people were reaching out to me in a way that I hadn’t had (before). I now have a team of eight.”
On top of the boost to business, Hudson says she’s made up to $4,000 in a month simply by uploading videos through the platform’s creator fund.
She feels the ban is a double standard since other social media apps have been shown to store and use people’s data the same way TikTok does.
“There’s so much to lose if we ban TikTok,” Hudson said. “It’s a huge community. I think there’s so much support that you get from other TikTok users.”
The frustration created by a potential ban goes beyond businesses. For many creators, like Tommy Barrett, making content is about giving others a platform.
He’s known as @itstartswithaquestion on Tiktok.
Barrett’s page focuses on food reviews of Indy-area businesses, many of which he posts from his car.
“[Making videos] has really grown my appreciation for the city,” Barrett said.
The content creator also is part of TikTok’s Creator Fund.
According to Barrett, he’s not paying any bills with the money he makes posting videos. However, it’s enough to fund his lunches, which then become content.
Reaching almost 30,000 followers, the platform by far makes up the TikToker’s largest social media following. He says it’s enough to make a real impact on the local businesses he reviews.
“I had an unreal bagel. I went posted it, tons of people watched it,” Barrett said. “The owner texts me, ‘I’m running out of bagels — every single Saturday, I’m very busy, and I thank you so much,’ That’s what that means to me.”
He’s worried that a looming ban on TikTok could have devastating effects on local economies.
“I’d be really frustrated,” Barret said. “It’s about showcasing the people that really need it the most, and especially in the city that I love the most.”
Both Hudson and Barret still plan on making short-form content on competing platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
While the fate of the ban is still up in the air, President-elect Donald Trump says he is considering an executive order which would allow ByteDance — TikTok’s parent company — more time to find a potential buyer.
Although, it’s unclear whether Trump could actually do that if the new law takes effect before he takes office.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.
Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.
The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.
The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.
The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.
Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.
See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.
Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.
All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.
(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.
Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.
Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.
An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis is getting ready to welcome spring with its annual St. Benno Festival this Saturday.
Organizers say it’s one of the longest-running cultural festivals in Indianapolis.
St. Benno Festival is based on the German tradition of “Frühlingsfest,” the springtime version of Oktoberfest, Athenaeum Foundation President Craig Mince says.
“It would always be the festival that would open up the beer garden,” Mince said. “So that was kind of their kickoff of the spring and that warmer season. “
The Athenaeum’s celebration focuses on St. Benno, the patron saint of anglers and the city of Munich, Germany.
There’s a lot of folklore surrounding St. Benno. He’s said to have created Bach beer. He also had a sidekick, “Einbeck,” which means “billy goat” in German.
Legend has it that when the invaders were coming to Munich, he threw the key to a church into a body of water. Years later, he caught a fish that had eaten the key and retrieved it.
“When the German immigrants came here to central Indiana, Indianapolis in particular, they started to organize,” Mince said. “They celebrated Benno. They celebrated Bach beer. So that was kind of the beginning of this institution.”
St. Benno Fest will include lots of beer, pretzels, and Gomez BBQ’s doner kebab.
Francene Thomas, the Athenaeum’s event and festivals manager, says there’s a lot of thought that goes into the menu.
“We want to definitely bring the tradition of this festival and continue that, but also, just bring some fresh flavor to it, too.”
The celebration serves as a fundraiser for the Athenaeum. Money raised will go back into maintenance and other events that promote German culture.
Tickets are $25 and can be bought in advance on the Athenaeum website. St. Benno Fest is a 21+ event and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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