TikTok Drama: What Now for Creators on the Platform?

There’s a lot of news swirling around about TikTok right now. In the last few weeks, the Trump administration wanted to ban it, Microsoft wanted to buy it, and TikTok themselves launched a $200M program to fund creators.

If you’re a prominent TikToker, you may be wondering what this means for the app’s future.

On one side of the conversation, things seem bleak. Back in December 2019, cybersecurity company called Check Point published a research study exposing vulnerabilities within the TikTok app. These would allow hackers to control users’ accounts and expose their personal information, such as private email addresses.

TikTok has since fixed these issues, but U.S. politicians still view the app as a national security threat. At one point, the Trump administration planned to ban TikTok in the U.S.

When that news got out, TikTok responded as any platform with 800M active users would. In a tweet posted from the U.S. TikTok account, General Manager Vanessa Pappas addressed the controversy by saying, “We’re not planning on going anywhere.”

Even with all the scrutiny around TikTok, things are getting better. Instead of banning the app, the Trump administration is now giving ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) some time to negotiate the sale of TikTok to Microsoft. If that happens, the app may have a future in the U.S.

Despite all this, TikTok's fate seems to change by the hour. Nothing feels concrete, so at the very least TikTokers should prepare for the worst - either losing their U.S. audience or the app altogether.

Before that happens, let’s explore other video-based platforms you could join if TikTok meets its end. When it comes to creating videos (and getting paid to do so) these four apps will help you make a name for yourself.

Shifting From TikTok to YouTube

Running a successful YouTube channel in 2020 is no cakewalk, but it can be done. In fact, the process gets easier when you dedicate time toward learning the platform, understanding which content does well, and discovering how to monetize your videos.

Luckily, TikTokers already have the secret sauce that sets popular YouTubers apart. For one, you’re already used to publishing videos, so that’s a huge plus. The other advantage is your affinity for posting funny, quirky, content. Keep building on that, because you’ll need tons of personality (and longer videos) to succeed on YouTube.

If you want to learn exactly how it’s done, read our blog titled, “3 Ways to Turn TikTok Followers into YouTube Subscribers.” It addresses the challenges you’ll face when making the transition and how to confidently overcome them.

Dealing with YouTube’s Copyright Policy

Outside of that, there’s one challenge you’ll face on YouTube that isn’t as prominent on TikTok: If you like to lip-sync and dance to popular songs in your videos, that could violate YouTube’s copyright policy.

In the first rule of copyright, YouTube states: “Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they're authorized to use. That means they should not upload videos they didn't make, or use content in their videos that someone else owns the copyright to, such as music tracks, snippets of copyrighted programs, or videos made by other users, without necessary authorizations.”

If YouTube detects unauthorized music in your videos, you could accumulate copyright strikes. Collect three of these warnings, and your account could be terminated.

Moving From TikTok to Twitch

Twitch is a live-streaming platform that caters mostly to gamers. With more than 15 million daily active users, it’s a popular place for streamers to play games of their choice.

If you’re a TikToker who loves online gaming, Twitch could become your new home. Creators on this platform are having tons of fun, and that’s something you’re already accustomed to in TikTok’s meme-heavy universe.

When you decide to join Twitch, don’t forget to bring your TikTok spark and cheer. You can do this in every broadcast by cracking jokes, being funny, and responding to chats. It also helps if you’re great at playing games, but please - don’t let this be your only selling point. A lot of people think streamers on Twitch need to be skilled players, when really, they need to be entertaining to attract followers (and get paid).

Curious about the opportunities? Here are a few ways to generate income on the platform:

• Accepting donations via Streamlabs, PayPal, etc.
• Selling your own merchandise
• Allowing viewers to subscribe to your Twitch channel (Twitch Affiliate program)
• Receiving virtual cheers, which resemble small donations (Twitch Affiliate program)
• Collecting affiliate revenue from game sales (Twitch Affiliate program)
• Receiving advertisement revenue (Twitch Partner program)

Making the Most of Patreon

According to its homepage, Patreon wants to “change the way art is valued.” To bring this philosophy to life, the company gives creators a platform to monetize their work.

Skilled creators achieve this by offering exclusive content via paid memberships. You can have multiple membership tiers on Patreon, so creators set a range of subscription prices, charging less for basic services and more for expanded offerings.

If you’re a TikToker who creates short tutorial videos, ask yourself: Could I record for longer? If yes, Patreon is the platform for you. You can make money by creating a gated library of content, such as:

• video courses
• informational, behind-the-scenes videos
• exclusive, bonus videos around your niche

Of course, you don’t have to be a how-to TikToker to do well on Patreon. We’ve just found that creators who share an expertise - cooking, fitness, music education, and more - are in a good position to make money on the platform.

Building a Presence on Instagram

You’re familiar with Instagram, right? I hope you are because this popular app might become your new home if TikTok disappears.

Instagram is wildly popular and needs no introduction, but if you’re new to the app, here are the facts:

• Instagram is a photo and video-sharing service that just turned 10 years old.
• The popular app has more than 1 billion users worldwide.
• 89% of marketers think Instagram is the best social media app for influencer marketing.

Let’s talk about that last statistic for a moment. As a TikTok creator, the fact that 89% of marketers are taken with Instagram is good news for you. That means brands will open their budgets to successful Instagram influencers.

Luckily, you have an excellent chance of becoming one.

I say this because out of all the apps and platforms we’ve mentioned above, Instagram and TikTok are the most similar. Video length is shorter on both platforms and meme-culture is abundant. In terms of shifting from one app to the other, you’ll feel right at home on Instagram and even have the ability to make money with brand sponsorships.

No matter which app or platform you decide to join, make the leap as soon as you can. Even if TikTok manages to survive, it’s never wise to put all your eggs into one basket.

Want To Learn More About YouTube?

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