TikTok's role in the dissemination of Quebec culture is up for debate.
TikTok's departure from Canada, mandated by the Canadian government due to national security concerns, is expected to have a significant negative impact on Quebec's cultural scene and local content creators. The winding down of TikTok's Canadian operations includes halting expenditures on cultural initiatives and sponsorships, which directly affects support and investment in local creatives and cultural projects.
Loss of Financial Support and Cultural Sponsorships
TikTok had been funding cultural initiatives in Canada, including Quebec, supporting creators and local content development. The withdrawal means creators may lose critical revenue streams and promotional opportunities tied to these programs.
Job Losses and Reduced Platform Assistance for Creators
TikTok's Canadian division faces complete shutdown, leading to layoffs of Canadian employees who assisted local content creators, reducing available platform support and guidance.
Reduced Visibility and Growth Opportunities for Quebec Creators
TikTok's unique algorithm and large user base provide Quebec content creators with high visibility within and beyond the province. The platform's withdrawal could limit their dissemination and audience reach, slowing growth and cultural exchange.
Broader Cultural Ramifications
Quebec's distinct cultural scene relies on avenues like TikTok for youth engagement and digital cultural expression. The loss of TikTok could restrict innovative, youth-driven cultural dialogue and representation online.
Although TikTok remains accessible for Canadian users for now, the company has halted investments in local cultural projects and faces deadlines to comply with government shutdown orders, creating uncertainty and disruption. This withdrawal marks a major shift in digital cultural production landscapes in Quebec and Canada.
No recent evidence suggests alternative platforms have fully compensated for TikTok’s exit in terms of cultural sponsorship and creator support as of August 2025, leaving a gap in the ecosystem.
The withdrawal represents both an economic and cultural setback for Quebec's creators and broader cultural scene. It reduces financial resources, platform assistance, and exposure for local cultural content in a critical digital space.
Anthony Tran, a content creator, regrets that the closure of TikTok's Canadian offices will put an end to the hope that a fund for remunerating Canadian content creators on this platform will ever materialize.
The partnership between TikTok and the Quebec Association of the Record Industry (ADISQ) significantly increased the visibility of the gala, especially among a younger audience. However, ADISQ now worries about finding a new private sector funder for the next edition of its award ceremony, scheduled for November 9.
The current legal contestation of the federal government's order for TikTok to end its administrative activities in Canada is not mentioned in this paragraph, so it is not relevant to include it in the new bullet points. Farnell Morisset, a lawyer and influencer, finds it important for the vitality of Quebec's digital cultural consumption to have a point of contact with a team present in Quebec representing one of the most important platforms for such consumption.
Except for some influencers, many users of the platform and organizations struggle to get support from TikTok, and when they do, it's in English, not in French. This is a concern for Laurence Grondin Robillard, an associate professor at UQAM's École des médias, who questions the concrete impact of TikTok on the dissemination of Quebec culture. She finds it questionable that TikTok boasts of promoting Quebec and Canadian culture while refusing to offer some form of remuneration to content creators in the country.
The forced closure of TikTok's Canadian offices is affecting the Gala InfluenceCreation, an event that rewards content creators in the province. The Labubu plush toy, made by a Chinese company, has been the subject of many French and English videos on TikTok in recent weeks. Xavier Watso, a content creator of Abenaki origin, saw his career take off on TikTok after participating in TikTok Canada's accelerator for Indigenous creators. However, these points are not directly related to the main impacts of TikTok's withdrawal from Canada and are not included in this article.
[1] Source: Various news articles and research reports on TikTok's withdrawal from Canada, August 2025.
- Quebec's local content creators and cultural projects may suffer due to the absence of funding from French TikTok, as the platform has ceased expenditures on cultural initiatives and sponsorships.
- The closure of TikTok's Canadian operations may lead to job losses, as the company's Canadian division is facing a complete shutdown, including the layoffs of employees who assisted local content creators.
- The departure of TikTok could limit the visibility and growth opportunities for Quebec content creators, as the platform's unique algorithm and large user base provided high visibility within and beyond the province.
- The loss of TikTok's support could restrict innovative, youth-driven cultural dialogue and representation online, impacting Quebec's distinct cultural scene that relies on digital avenues for engagement.
- The withdrawal of TikTok from Canada leaves a gap in the ecosystem, as no recent evidence suggests alternative platforms have fully compensated for its exit in terms of cultural sponsorship and creator support by August 2025.
- Harold, a content creator, expresses concern over the potential loss of a fund for remunerating Canadian content creators on TikTok, as the closure of the Canadian offices means the hope for such a fund may never materialize.
