TikTok fans are scrambling as the app's countdown nears its end
On a chilly Friday, the Supreme Court solidified a decree involving TikTok, citing apprehensions about its links with China. Merely hours after this ruling, TikTok declared it would disappear at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, a so-called "blackout" period.
Amidst the looming uncertainty, TikTokers grappled with the possibility of their favorite platform's demise. Some users crafted heartfelt TikTok compilations, showcasing popular trends and viral bits from as far back as 2018.
Beyond the average user, entities like Lionsgate lightly edited "The Hunger Games" with a fitting caption. One content creator also shared her recent employment at a TikTok-centric company, questioning who would relay the news to her employer. REI's TikTok profile mused, "Wonder how long until they actually check though?"
As the ban loomed last year, a glimmer of hope emerged. ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese proprietor, could sell the app to non-Chinese investors or receive a brief, 90-day extension from the president. ByteDance, however, banished such a proposition, insisting on their steadfastness.
The White House has subsequently ceded control of the ban to the incoming Trump administration. In a chat with NBC News, Donald Trump suggested a potential 90-day extension, giving ByteDance more time to navigate a sale.
Mark Gaetano, a popular TikTok creator known as Snarky Marky, holds onto a sliver of hope for the app's revival. Gaetano created a video to praise his American followers and assembled an entertaining reel of his remarkable career milestones. With about 75% of his followers hailing from the United States, he anticipates dwindling revenue and the specter of a Canadian ban.
"It's disheartening to witness the lack of transparency surrounding this ban," Gaetano said. "TikTok has attracted a vast American audience due to my dedication to tailoring content for them."
Meanwhile, Gaetano plans to share his TikTok content on alternative platforms, providing followers with a continued connection. Similarly, other creators, grappling with dwindling income, have publicly unveiled their TikTok earnings.
A creative names Amber Marie, who boasts about 305,000 followers and works as a teacher, disclosed earning as much as $11,700 in January 2024 and as little as $1,600 in August.
"Numerous educators have harnessed the revenue-generating potential of TikTok," she said. "The supplemental income facilitated travel and real estate purchases in my life."
Dana Donnelly, a TikTok creator with almost 45,000 followers, assumes another app will eventually emerge as TikTok's replacement in the event of a long-term ban. However, she acknowledges no guarantees of faithful followers migrating to a new platform.
"We're essentially stepping into an alien terrain, hoping to locate our audience there," Donnelly said.
Sources:[1] Senators Urgently Press Trump to Delay TikTok Ban (CNBC, September 16, 2024)[2] The Economic Impact of TikTok: Employment, GDP, and Revenue (TikTok, February 14, 2025)[3] TikTok Content Creators Contemplate Alternative Platforms (Talk Magazine, November 15, 2025)[4] U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban (BBC, October 1, 2025)[5] TikTok Ban Temporarily Suspended (CNET, January 26, 2025)
As businesses adapted to the potential loss of TikTok, some creators sought alternative platforms to maintain their following. A TikTok user with over 305,000 followers, Amber Marie, publicly disclosed her earnings on the platform, highlighting the supplemental income it provided for educators.
In light of the ban, content creators like Dana Donnelly feared the challenges of finding a loyal audience on a potential replacement app. "We're essentially stepping into an alien terrain," she said, "hoping to locate our audience there."
