TikTok Ban Uncertainty Leaves US Creators Seeking China’s TikTok, RedNote
The January 19 deadline looms for TikTok, with the potential ban nearing with TikTok creator center threatening to disrupt the very livelihoods of countless creators who rely on the ByteDance-owned platform to survive, as a potential recession looms.
For many creators, TikTok is more than just a means of self-expression but rather a vital source of visibility and revenue, leaving them anxious about their future should the ban go into action without a tangible resolution.
TikTok Creators Center Makes a Move
TikTok has become a space for creators and small businesses to showcase skills, grow audiences, and earn sustainable income, considering that currently any big creator earns commission on TikTok.
Losing the app now forces content creators on TikTok to create and rebuild online presences across different platforms, something that would form a burden.
The uncertainty gave a creator on TikTok to look for alternatives, like Instagram and YouTube, and even email newsletters. But each platform represents its own set of problems.
“I’m not thrilled with moving to Instagram, but it feels like the only alternative with an established user base,” says Kristen, a TikTok creator with 30,000 followers (@teacherpaywithk).
Kristen highlights that becoming a content creator on TikTok differed from other platforms. Instagram’s algorithm doesn’t promote casual content as effectively as TikTok, making it harder to reach new audiences.
“Instagram comments are much meaner and more aggressive than TikTok,” she says, pointing out that Instagram’s larger character count allows trolls to be more hostile compared to the platform’s TikTok counterpart.
While Instagram is the most popular alternative, other creators like Alexandra Ellis (@aewellness), who has over 387,000 followers on TikTok, are looking at other options.
“I’d rather spend the same time creating an email list that is seen by more people and customers versus hoping that they’ll see it on Instagram,” TikTok content creator Ellis explains.
But building and managing an e-mail list is a hell of a lot of work, and getting people to subscribe takes a lot from them. Ellis also said she’s afraid of Meta’s ever-changing policies, comparing it to how Twitter got destroyed after it let fact-checking slip.
“I see what dropping fact-checking did to Twitter and fear the same thing will happen here.”
RedNote and Other TikTok Alternatives
While everyone is waiting for the TikTok ban, some users found in RedNote app an alternative. RedNote (Xiaohongshu), is a Chinese social media platform like TikTok, has gained popularity, ranking the first on Apple Store and 34th on Google Play Store.
RedNote includes all the features like TikTok, for example the vertical scroll through feeds. The app has gained traction in China, as every content creator on TikTok share their experience on it.
Other apps that may gain traction from the TikTok ban include Lemon8, another ByteDance platform, and Flip, a social-commerce app. However, all the alternative platforms face their own challenges as well.
Another Chinese app, ReelShort, is gaining attention with its short-form movie clips. ReelShort, features bit-sized clips for longer movies with title like “The Heiress Blacklisted her Husband” and “In Love with the Alpha.”
There is no guarantee these apps may sustain long-term popularity, but their rise highlights the influence of TikTok’s user base and how banning TikTok may not fully diminish the impact of Chinese tech companies in the US.
Final Thoughts
With few days left before the possible ban of TikTok creator center, the future seems uncertain for creators.
Instagram and YouTube and email newsletters are good alternatives, but each also introduces challenges. For now, creators are left in uncertainty, searching out solutions that can protect both their visibility and their income.
Will the concerned authorities consider the ban on the content creator for TikTok harmful for the economy? Content Creators will receive their answers in a few days.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Tech sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.