Is there anything more powerful than social media today? Sure, the world has its fair share of heavy hitters like governments, nuclear threats, love, and fear but social media reshapes lives faster than the swipe of a screen. From a total nobody, it turns them into a superstar just overnight. Just look at Olivia Dunne, aka “Livvy” to her millions of fans. She started as an ordinary girl from New Jersey, but due to TikTok, she’s now an influential name, a star gymnast, and the face of LSU gymnastics, bringing the sport into the spotlight like never before. But now, rumors of a potential ban have everyone wondering. Could the same platform that built her empire also shake it to its core?

So, here’s what’s going down with TikTok. Starting Jan. 19, the app might be pulled from U.S. app stores unless ByteDance, the Chinese company behind it, sells off its U.S. assets. And the reason for all this drama? There are big concerns that the Chinese government could access U.S. user data, which is why there’s this law trying to protect citizens from foreign influence. TikTok’s got around 170 million active users in the U.S., so this would be a huge deal.

Some people think this whole ban is an attack on free speech and creators’ livelihoods, but it seems like the Supreme Court is backing the government’s side on this one. If that’s the case, TikTok could shut down U.S. operations, leaving a lot of people wondering what happens next. For Olivia, who’s in her final year at LSU, this couldn’t come at a worse time. Social media is her bread and butter, and now her future feels uncertain.

With over 8 million followers on TikTok, Olivia has become one of the highest-earning college athletes, reportedly as of 2024, she made between $12,000 and $19,000 per TikTok post. For someone who has built her career and public image largely on social media, this ban could have serious financial and professional consequences.

Just three days before the ban, on Jan. 16, Olivia Dunne posted a TikTok that felt like a celebration and a farewell. In the video, she’s holding her diploma certificate from LSU. She earned her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in December 2024, wearing white pants and a tank top, captioned, “Me when my diploma finally comes 3 days before the TikTok ban.” The post shows her heartbreak. In her final year at LSU, she’s balancing her gymnastics career with her massive social media presence. Social media isn’t just a side gig for her—it’s a full-blown career. She even captioned it, “Getting my Linkedin ready #foryou #tikTok”.

Olivia might have envisioned continuing her career as a social media influencer, using TikTok to generate consistent income and opportunities. Without it, she may now have to explore traditional career platforms like LinkedIn to explore other career paths, such as journalism, human resources, or student counseling. Fellow influenced Olivia Ponton commented on her post, “Love you hahahha,” trying to keep the mood light, but the reality is, Olivia’s next steps are far from clear. As for the TikTok ban: The chances are extremely high, though there is a potential resolution.

Olivia Dunne’s future hanging in the balance

With the January 19 deadline fast approaching, ByteDance faces a choice: sell TikTok’s U.S. assets or accept a nationwide ban. Amid the uncertainty, both Kick and MrBeast have stepped forward with offers to purchase the platform. On January 13, MrBeast announced he had met with billionaires and prepared a bid to save TikTok, declaring, “America deserves TikTok.” Just two days later, Kick, a live-streaming platform backed by Stake, claimed they “beat him to it” by submitting a purchase letter of intent.

While Kick’s proposal outlines an agreement with ByteDance, key details like the purchase price remain redacted. Despite these high-profile efforts, ByteDance has repeatedly stated it has no intention of selling TikTok, even as U.S. lawmakers push for a ban citing privacy and security concerns. With time running out, the platform’s future and the fate of these potential buyers hang in the balance. But for Olivia Dunne, who built her career and income on TikTok, the uncertainty is even more personal. What happens to her career if the app is gone?

Olivia Dunne’s TikTok journey took off in 2020 when she started posting gymnastics-related content. But as time went on, she switched things up, adding more personal videos—dancing, lip-syncing, and some hilarious skits. That mix of athletic talent and relatable personality helped her blow up, and before long, Olivia was not just known for being a gymnast, but also a TikTok sensation. It’s crazy how a platform like TikTok can turn someone from a regular person into a household name, right? For Olivia, it became more than just a fun hobby; it turned into a career, helping her land huge NIL deals (valued at $4.2M) and turning her into one of the highest-earning college athletes out there.

With all this, Olivia has managed to build an empire, with her net worth hitting around $6 million as of 2024. But with the potential TikTok ban looming, she’s facing a big question mark. Her recent post, where she shared an old TikTok draft from back in 2020 with the hashtag #tiktokban, shows just how much the whole situation is on her mind. She’s probably feeling a little emotional about it all—her career, her future, and the platform that helped her get to where she is.