TikTok has bounced back, but creators worry about its uncertain future

TikTok has bounced back from its time offline according to traffic logs, but creators are worried about the uncertain future of the app.

Some are assuming the worst, and preparing for the platform to shut down, while others feel TikTok has a unique role and it would be difficult to replicate their success on other platforms …

The story so far

Check out an earlier piece if you need a reminder of the full saga, but the key facts are:

• The law requires the app to be sold to an American company
• Until that happens, TikTok remains banned in the US
• That is, the app can be used, but US companies can’t host it or offer it for download
• TikTok briefly went offline in the US
• Trump issued an executive order pausing enforcement of the law
• But the law remains in place, and Trump’s order is probably unlawful
• Apple continues to comply with the law
• Oracle is currently breaking the law to host it in the US
• It’s been speculated that it might be bought by Oracle or perhaps Microsoft
• Vague references have been made to a government stake or other solution

TikTok bounced back, but creators worried

Logs of domain name service traffic indicates that traffic to TikTok servers has bounced back after the app’s brief time offline, though it does remain around 10% lower than before the shutdown, reports CNBC. That may reflect a small percentage of users who weren’t following the news and don’t yet realize it’s back online.

However, as things stand, the law remains in place and even Trump’s dubious enforcement pause will expire, so many creators remain worried. Some are ensuring they are up-and-running on other platforms, like YouTube Shorts.

“I’ve kind of made peace with it going away,” said Dylan Lemay, a creator with more than 10 million followers on TikTok. “When they threatened to get rid of it the first time, that was my wake-up call to say I need to make sure that I’m prepared if this ever does happen.”

But others say they haven’t been able to replicate their TikTok following elsewhere.

Noah Glenn Carter, another creator with nearly 10 million TikTok followers, has not been able to find the same kind of audience on Instagram and YouTube, where his following and viewership are significantly lower.

Photo by Collabstr on Unsplash

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