TikTok creators post goodbye videos to fans ahead of US ban

With the prospect of TikTok disappearing in the US, the app’s creators spent the week posting a heartfelt farewell to their fans.

Kimberly Rhoades, creator of comedy videos: “I never thought in a million years that anyone would care about what I say. he told his 3 million followers on Thursday “If this app goes away, it was a great ride.”

A day later, the Supreme Court He finished 9-0 to hold on A law requiring Chinese parent ByteDance to force the sale of TikTok or ban the app in the US. dark as soon as Sunday, meaning it can disappear from the web and be removed from the app stores it manages. the apple and google.

Congress passed the law, signed it President Joe Bidenciting national security concerns over TikTok’s data collection practices and its ties to China.

In a follow up video on Friday, Rhoades sang about 30 seconds of “Taps,” a military song often played at funerals. He concluded by saying: “It was an honor to laugh.”

The fate of TikTok In the US it is now up to the president-elect Donald Trumphe initially supported a TikTok ban during his first administration, but has since reversed course. In December, Trump he asked to the Supreme Court suspend the implementation of the law and gives his administration “an opportunity to obtain a political settlement of the questions at issue in the case.”

In a Friday post on his social media app Truth Social, Trump wrote: “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I need time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” CEO of TikTok Shou Chew is one of the leaders in technology attendance is expected Trump’s inauguration in Washington, DC on Monday. In a short video, Chew thanked Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available” in the US.

Ultimately, whether or not Trump finds a way to keep the app alive for American consumers, many TikTok creators are preparing for the end, telling their fans to find them on other social platforms, such as Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, before CNBC notify. RedNoteChinese social media app and Similar to TikTok, it rose to the top Apple’s app store on Monday, indicating that millions of TikTok users were looking for alternatives.

The migration of founders seems to have gained momentum as the ban deadline approaches. Influencers like Megan Cruz used goodbye videos as an opportunity to expand TikTok’s features.

“People were engaged with things like BookTok and FilmTok and the idea of ​​engaging in TikTok culture, you didn’t have to be a big creator,” Cruz said. in a video published earlier this week. “There was an incentive for people to join the conversation because anyone had the power to be a leader in a conversation, to make a point that resonated with millions of people.”

TikTok’s history as a viral sensation dates back to 2017, when ByteDance spent around $1 billion to acquire a startup called Musical.ly. ByteDance combined Musical.ly and TikTok the following year.

TikTok started to take off in the US at the time, mainly as an app used by young people for short dance clips and lip-syncing videos. TikTok’s big break came during the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, when consumers were looking for ways to pass the time and connect with others online.

The app was so successful that Internet giants Meta and Google launched copy services. Meta introduced Reels to US Instagram users in August 2020 and later added it to Facebook. Google released YouTube Shorts in the US in March 2021.

Despite the competition, TikTok continued to grow.

TikTok has about 115 million monthly active users in the US, compared to 258 million on YouTube, 253 million on Facebook and 131 million on Instagram, according to Sensor Tower’s market intelligence.

While TikTok lags its rivals in total users, the Chinese app has become a hub for creators, defined as users with more than 1,000 followers. TikTok has nearly 8.5 million users in the US who fit that category, with about 5.2 million on Instagram and 1.1 million on YouTube, according to HypeAuditor, an influencer marketing platform.

Internet promotion group of businessman Frank McCourt Freedom project announced on January 9 that it had submitted a proposal to buy TikTok from ByteDance on undisclosed terms. McCourt told CNBC on Friday that “we are, I think, the only bidder” that meets the necessary criteria to separate the technology from the Chinese algorithm.

If ByteDance decides to sell, potential buyers may have to spend between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to the valuation. appreciate By Angelo Zino, CFRA Research Senior Vice President of TikTok’s US operations.

Some creators, in anticipation of the shutdown, let fans know where they can find them. Others are encouraging users to unfollow Meta’s services, or to take a break from social media altogether.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say that once TikTok is gone, you’re going to cut social media out of your life and I encourage that, it’s probably going to be very healthy for you,” Jack Ryan said. Creator with 2 million followers on TikTok, in a video thanking his fans for their support on Thursday.

“I have an Instagram. I have a huge following on there, but don’t follow me on Instagram,” Ryan added. “Don’t go there. It’s brain rot. It’s gross.”

Jonas Gindin, who has more than 400,000 followers on Tiktok, said in a video that he waited tables a year and a half ago while trying to become an actor in Los Angeles. He didn’t have much luck.

After finding a fan base on TikTok, Gindin said he’s managed to produce content on the app full-time.

“If we’re cooked, it’s been a ride, man,” Gindin said. “Every time I see someone comment something positive, it means the world, bro.”

SEE: It’s up to Apple and Google if they want to keep TikTok in their app stores, says the NSA’s Gerstell