Federal workers have found something to do with their time as the government shutdown heads for record length — make TikToks.
A monthlong shutdown has left many federal workers unable to work and without a paycheck for the time being. Many furloughed workers have, therefore, turned to the social media platform to document their days and provide an outlet for these stressful times.
“I really just started posting about the shutdown to make light of a tough situation that I was in,” Bre Sheffield, a federal healthcare worker, told the Washington Examiner. “I wanted to show the reality of being an exempted furlough employee required to continue working through the shutdown even without receiving a paycheck.”
Sheffield said her videos became an “outlet” for her, hoping they make other people going through similar situations “feel less alone.” She has received a mix of good and bad messages, with some people even offering to buy her morning coffee.
@bresheffield CAN WE PASS A BUDGET ALREADY! #furlough #governmentemployee #healthcareworker #xraytech #foryou ♬ original sound – prettynpinkedits
Whether it be a “day in the life” video, addressing their personal connection and thoughts on the shutdown, coffee videos, or a call to action, workers across the country have turned to the increasingly popular app, with some achieving virality.
One furloughed worker, Emma Sturgeon, began making videos 19 days into the shutdown and has already reached nearly 60,000 followers. She has received a handful of products and free services, such as facials, and has even been able to make up half of her rent through viewer “likes, comments, and saves.”
“It is the 28th day of the government shutdown, rent is due in four days, and thanks to my new gig as an influencer, we are going to be OK, everyone,” Sturgeon said in a video. “It is a miracle.”
@emma_sturgeon Short one today you guys but I filmed, edited, and it was up by 4:30 pm so I’m getting better!! Thanks for being here @Bloom Nutrition @Emily English ♬ original sound – emma_sturgeon
Social media has allowed these workers, going without pay for the time being, to share their personal experiences and give the public a new perspective as Washington remains at a standstill with no solution in sight.
“Your face to your name and a personal story I have to say is one of the most effective ways of breaking through and connecting the dots on an issue area for people, and the government shutdown is absolutely no exception,” content creator and CEO of Girl and the Gov Sammy Kanter told the Washington Examiner.
“Furloughed workers using their voices to share how personal this is and how it impacts not just them, but their communities is important for increasing awareness around what’s been happening and what’s to come,” she continued.
TikTok and social media in general have become major sources of income for many people around the world. While smaller creators use it for additional income, a handful of mega creators can make more than $50,000 per ad they post.
Along with supplemental income from social media, many creators are also sent packages from brands that send them products in hopes that the creator will promote the brand on their page. This allows for user-generated content, which is much cheaper than full advertising campaigns.
While not many of these federal workers will be able to pay their bills through making TikTok videos, even receiving products or small brand deals can make a difference during a time when they are struggling to make ends meet.
“Anything is better than nothing,” content creator and technical security manager Robert Perez told the Washington Examiner.
Perez, a former federal worker, has taken a creative stance to promote information on the shutdown on multiple social media platforms. From day one, he began running 1 mile for each day of the government shutdown. He now runs more than a marathon every day outside the hours of his typical nine-to-five.
“It’s almost like I’ve made politics relatable because I give analogies that are everyday things,” he said.
Perez said that videos like his and those of other furloughed workers allow for a “different perspective” than mainstream media, and that “regular people get to make their voice heard.”
“I just feel like when things are uncertain, you can either spiral or create something positive, and for me, that became the silly little TikTok videos,” Sheffield said. “I just shared what felt real at that time, really just for people to see if things are out of your control, you can still control your response.”
The shutdown has lasted nearly a month, and no negotiations have taken place. The House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government until Nov. 21 still sits in the upper chamber, where it has failed to meet the 60-vote threshold for the bill to hit the president’s desk and reopen the government.
When the CR passed the House, it left seven weeks for appropriators to find topline numbers to fund the government through the fiscal year. Now, 30 days into the shutdown, the CR would only extend current funding for around three weeks if the upper chamber were to pass it. The House has remained out of session for the entire shutdown to pressure the Senate to pass the short-term funding resolution.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN LEAN ON RELATIONSHIP BUILDING DURING A TIME OF DYSFUNCTION
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has continuously aimed to keep enough of his Democratic caucus in line to force Republicans to strike a deal that meets Democratic demands on healthcare. So far, only Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and two Democrats have backed the GOP plan.
Lawmakers have begun floating a long-term CR, which could extend Biden administration-era funding levels through the end of the fiscal year as the shutdown continues.