• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

Following previous attempts to highlight the app's impact on the American business economy, TikTok will use the country's 250th birthday as a chance to promote creators and SMBs currently utilizing the app's localized features via an in-person six-city U.S. tour.

TikTok's “Discover America” initiative will blend digital and real life collaborations with local creators and businesses across New York, Atlanta, Des Moines, Las Vegas, Denver, and Phoenix and various event dates between now and July 19.

According to TikTok's announcement, there are currently 200 million users and 8.5 million businesses actively tapping into the app in the U.S., marking a notable boost from 7 million SMBs mentioned in the company's 2024 economic impact report.

Users are invited to join in-person events in any of the six roadshow stops, or experience each launch digitally by searching “Discover America tour” on the app.

TikTok also created a stand-alone website for the tour, which highlights each event, while offering insights about local creators, businesses, and user stats in each city, as a way to help brands connect with consumers and potential ad partners.

The U.S.-owned social media company also wants to showcase its use as a guide for tourists, building off its in-app hospitality monetization program launched last year for creators, as well as its AI-powered Travel Ads format and U.S.-centric TikTok Go video feed.

As summer travel reaches its annual peak, TikTok will prioritize additional localized tools, including its Local Feed, which aims to help users discover nearby businesses and events, as well as its AI-powered Tako assistant, which can help users plan a trip.