Pittsburgh weekly roundup: Creators react to TikTok ban; PA certifies election; Pitt grad student union

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Creators fear community loss from TikTok ban

Last week, a federal appeals court upheld a law that would ban TikTok in the US on Jan. 19 unless it’s sold to a new owner.

As experts debate the financial impact of a TikTok ban, local influencers are bracing for other potential losses. In conversations with Technical.ly, creators expressed concerns about audience fragmentation, losing TikTok’s powerful analytics tools and the cultural shifts that could follow the ban. 

“I would lose 440,000 followers and four years worth of content and memories,” said Pittsburgh-based creator Joe Long, known as @joelongtok on TikTok.

➡️ Learn more about how local creators are preparing for a potential ban

PA confirms election integrity with audits

Despite fears that Pennsylvania’s 2024 election would be mired in controversy, the process has concluded with little fanfare. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and Gov. Josh Shapiro have officially certified the results.

But with so much on the line, how can voters be confident the results are trustworthy? 

The answer: Pennsylvania’s post-election audit process is considered “the gold standard” by the US Department of Homeland Security, according to state officials. The process is also manual, with election workers spending weeks meticulously hand-counting ballots to verify the outcome 

➡️ Discover how Pennsylvania’s post-election audits work and why they matter

News Incubator: What else to know

• In this month’s Power Moves, University of Pittsburgh graduate students officially unionize and local healthcare giant IHS partners with a Japanese-based company to launch a new healthcare data tool. [Technical.ly]

• Inspired by the upcoming US semiquincentennial, Technical.ly is drafting a vision statement for the Pittsburgh region in 2276. Share your thoughts by completing our survey. [Technical.ly]

• Technical.ly’s new innovation index tool shows Pittsburgh’s tech ecosystem excels on a per capita basis, outperforming major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, but the city still struggles from a slow-growing population. [Technical.ly]

• In preparation for season two of the popular Netflix show Squid Game, Duolingo has partnered with the streaming service to help viewers learn Korean phrases from the show and launch a dual-themed filter on TikTok. [TechCrunch]

• Local executive coach Max Polec is partnering with InnovatePGH to launch a free coaching program for startup founders called Anvil. Pittsburgh-based founders can submit applications for the program starting Jan. 23. [The CEO Strategy]

• The EPA has granted $15.3 million to Landforce, a Point Breeze-based nonprofit focused on environmental and employment issues, along with other PA partners, to support workforce development programs. [NEXTPittsburgh]

• The Tokyo-based company Nippon Steel is still optimistic it can acquire US Steel for $15 billion, despite opposition from President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. [WESA]

Introducing the Technical.ly Map of Innovation Ecosystems

Just about every region in the United States has somebody with a plan for entrepreneurs and tech workers. Where are they, and how do they compare? That’s where our new tool — we’ve been calling it the iMap — comes in handy.

The resource offers a snapshot of each region, and features the debut of the Technical.ly Innovation Index, which uses several weights to better understand regional strengths. In this inaugural rendition, we use five inputs to assess regions: research and development spending; total regional startup value; ease of doing business rankings; economic mobility and cost of living. How does it all shake out?

➡️ Check out the index and explore the map

On the Calendar

• 5thAve Studio, a local entrepreneur coworking space, is hosting a holiday party and open house on Dec. 13. Get into the holiday spirit with the 5thAve team and enjoy music, food and special holiday-themed activities. [Reserve a spot]

• Join the inclusive coding group Code & Coffee at Prototype PGH in Oakland on Dec. 14. Practice your skills, meet new friends and get help from fellow coders at this monthly meetup. [More details]

• Attend a virtual reality showcase on Dec. 15 where local artist and creative technologist Adrian Jones will demonstrate how augmented and virtual reality can be used to uncover Pittsburgh’s overlooked history. [Register here]

• Interested in creating custom electronic projects? Join this introductory workshop at HackPGH on Dec. 15 to learn about soldering and create a light-up 3D Holiday Tree kit to enjoy this Christmas. [Details here]

• Join Peak Performance Management on Dec. 18 to learn about a new strategic networking model designed to form stronger connections than traditional business networking. [Reserve a spot]