TikTok on the clock ?

New year, new marketing moves! We hope you're kicking 2025 off on a positive note. ??

This week, we're covering:

?? Your top questions about the TikTok Ban

?? How to write 100s of handwritten notes to creators

?? New influencer marketing resources you may have missed

? And more!?

Want to get these updates faster? Subscribe to our email list. And if you love these updates and know a fellow marketer who would too, please invite them to subscribe!

Your TikTok Ban Questions, Answered ?

The looming January 19th TikTok ban deadline is coming up.

We read the law and every possible expert opinion we could find to help predict what could happen next. Based on our findings, here are all of the potential outcomes:

1?? The incoming administration could intervene. President Trump has notoriously flip-flopped his stance on TikTok, but he is most recently known for showing his support of the app. He even met with the CEO of ByteDance in mid-December. While we don’t believe he can outright prevent the ban since there is bipartisan support and it was signed into law, he could negotiate a solution. This could include convincing ByteDance to sell or he could encourage the DOJ not to enforce the law while he negotiates.?

2?? The Supreme Court hears TikTok’s case and overturns or pauses the law. ByteDance is arguing that banning TikTok is unconstitutional on the grounds of free speech. However, since other platforms support free speech and TikTok has the option to remain in the US if they separate from ByteDance, it seems like there is a slim chance that the Supreme Court will overturn the ban. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Friday, Jan. 10.

3?? ByteDance divests from TikTok, falling into compliance with the law. The chance of this happening by the Jan. 19th deadline is unlikely since ByteDance has been vocal about its refusal to sell. That said, ByteDance may get the deadline extended if they start to play ball.?

4?? TikTok is “banned” on January 19th.? Since there is no precedent for a ban of this scale reports say that, practically, this means it would just be removed from app stores at the start. It is still TBD what an actual ban of the app would look like and how long it would take to fully remove access from Americans. If the ban goes into effect, China could also agree to approve of ByteDance selling TikTok after the fact, which could allow TikTok back in the US.?

5?? The TikTok ban sticks, making room for other apps to fill the void.?Right now the apps most likely to absorb the fallout would be Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Pinterest. There are also rumblings of newer apps trying to take its place, but none have gotten escape velocity (we'll be sure to let you know if we see one that looks promising).

As a brand what should you do to prepare for the possible TikTok Ban?

• Be prepared to shift budgets to other short-form video platforms including YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
• If you have influencer campaigns running when the ban goes into effect, keep in mind TikTok should still be usable in the US for a few weeks to a few months, so you should still see the benefits of finishing out those campaigns.
• To be safe, add a line in your contracts with creators now that says if TikTok gets banned where you would want them to post instead.?

No matter what happens, we're here for you! For the latest updates on the TikTok ban and how we got here, check out our blog post about the ban's timeline.??

Read the Blog Post

Snack-Sized Social News ??

Social news moves fast! Here are a couple of headlines to keep you in the loop:?

• Affiliate links just got an upgrade! Meta is rolling out new displays and tools to help creators monetize their content. ??
• Keeping you connected: Instagram’s latest feature resurfaces unseen Story Highlights to help users miss fewer posts on IG. ??

Making It Personal: Custom Handwritten Notes for Your Seeding Campaign ??

We're all about helping brands stand out here at Statusphere. ??

And with our new handwritten note option for Creator Collaborations, making a lasting impression on influencers just got way easier! ??

Here’s what’s new:

? Brands can now include text (up to 120 characters) for a handwritten note to include in box inserts for seeding campaigns.

? All you need to do is upload your custom insert design and we’ll handle the handwriting piece to bring your message to life.

This feature makes it possible to connect with creators on a personal level even when sending products to high volumes of influencers.

Want to learn more about how you can effortlessly personalize your creator campaigns using Statusphere's software? Check out the platform for yourself! ??

Learn More

ICYMI ??

Check out these resources from Statusphere that you might have missed:

• Brand Safety & Influencer Marketing: How to Prevent Reputation Risks
• Influencer Search Tools & Targeting Tips to Find the Best Creators?

We'll be back in two weeks with more news to level up your marketing strategy!