After President Donald Trump gave only 45 days deadline for TikTok to finalize a deal with Microsoft or the short-form video app gets banned in the United States, the future of video creators in this platform is now uncertain.
Instead of sulking in agony, TikTok creators who have made a social media career try to drive their followers to other social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. They even made videos regarding Trump's demands.
On Saturday, August 1, TikTok stars like Aidan Williams injected some humor on Microsoft's desire to purchase the short-form video app as his dreams, and social media career depend on TikTok's fate.
In a video shared with his almost 2 million followers, the 17-year old TikTok star wears a blue hoodie while the phrase "Microsoft about to buy TikTok" is written above his head while he partially covers his smile. He then lip-syncs "Yeah baby" before laughing while the phrase "Trump not letting that happen" shows up. A smacking sound emerges while he drops to the ground.
The video, which now has more than 400,000, is beyond the humor attached to the supposed business deal that could save TikTok from a U.S. ban. While he used the hashtag #savetiktok, he also included his Instagram account name while he urged his fans to follow him on his social media accounts. He now has additional 10,000 new followers on Instagram with the help of the video.
"If you say 'Go follow my Instagram,' the video is not going to get on the 'For You' page," Williams told CNET. He refers to how videos are suggested for users based on their interests, so he tried to make fun of the issue.
Williams said that he is hopeful, but cautious as Instagram is already well-established. "I just don't see another platform pushing out content the way that TikTok does," he added. Williams has put his plans of moving to Los Angeles because of the uncertainty surrounding TikTok.
Like Williams, the father-daughter duo of Nick Casas and his daughter Sienna has been directing their 11 million TikTok followers to their Instagram and YouTube accounts, which have 475,000 and 246,000 followers. Casas and his daughter record TikTok videos of popular songs that artists shared and led them to a stint on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. With the TikTok ban threat, they try to build a stronger following on other platforms.
Meanwhile, other TikTok creators also insert their Instagram and Youtube as they struggle to continue their online careers while there are more than 855 million total views on videos with #savetiktok.
Bytedance strengthens its European market with new data center
Amid the threats of getting banned in the United States, Bytedance has announced on Thursday, Aug. 6, its investment of about $500 million to build its first data center in Europe where the data created by European TikTok users will be stored.
Tech Times earlier reported that this will be TikTok's third data center: the first is in the U.S. where American users' information is stored, and the second in Singapore where the back-up copy is kept. Bytedance hopes European users will build greater confidence towards the company regarding the security of their data and privacy.
Although there are still no specific details about the project, Bytedance hopes to make the center operational within two years.
Despite the agony the ban gives to TikTok and its users, other social media platforms will benefit from the situation. Aside from YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat, creators also try other apps like Triller and Zynn. However, TikTok's direct competitor Instagram Reels has also been launched in the U.S. and other 50 countries. This short-form video feature on Facebook-owned Instagram has already been tested in India, where TikTok was banned in June.
Read also: ByteDance to Invest $500M on Building New Data Center in Ireland Amid TikTok Ban in the US
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by: CJ Robles
