What Uncle Luke and TikTok have in common musically, content creators need to know

Musically Speaking

When I was a kid, the phone was connected to the wall. Now, kids can go viral on their phones. The worldwide web wasn't even born until April 1993.

In July 1990, Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew dropped the controversial track "Banned In the USA." The irony that youth can now use music in their TikTok videos is not the issue.

In this week's edition of Weekly Smoke, I wanted to share why veteran content creators should conduct their due diligence accordingly before getting started on any social media platform.

If the Supreme Court does not delay the ban, as Trump is asking them to do, app stores and internet service providers would be required to stop providing service to TikTok by Jan. 19. That means anyone who doesn’t have TikTok on their phone would be unable to download it. ~PBS

The idea of TikTok going away is “hard to accept.”

Digital Due Diligence

I shared here last March why?BANNING TIKTOK?in the USA makes sense. Other creators close to me have encouraged me to use the platform. TikTok hit smartphone app stores before I retired from the Navy in the summer of 2016. There's a reason why I never chose the platform to add to my nine-year social media resume.

Veteran content creators, please pay attention. Treat your content like a career investment. Choose which platform to share it with wisely. All money ain't good money. Content creators must choose a new platform to move their content to now.

I knew when the military banned servicemembers from downloading the social media goliath on government phones, there was a reason. Creators who built their empires on TikTok solely now must learn a valuable lesson. Never put all your eggs in one basket.

Who knows? Maybe Zuckerberg will sell Facebook like Tom sold Myspace. As a creator in 2025, choose your social media platform wisely. Imagine having nine years of skin in the game on a social media platform; then, just like that, it's gone.

Cannabis, Coffee, and Music

Thanks to my Patreon supporters who have purchased my?"Weekly Smoke"?membership, this weekly newsletter is rolled up and shared, with a special emphasis on veterans who plan to create cannabis, coffee, and music content in 2025.

My Fan Base Creator eBook on Amazon targets ignorant football fans on social media to learn how to get a Return On Investment (ROI). When you realize you spend 2.5 hours on average daily on social media on your phone, how much are you earning?

This was not a knock on TikTok. It's a musical history lesson with a twist. Unlike Uncle Luke, the difference will be that TikTok might get banned in the USA. Many fail to give Luke his flowers for his historical fight over freedom of speech. Now, look at us with music on social media.

Due diligence is imperative for veterans who want to create long-term content on social media. It may save you time, effort, and money. Veteran content creators, please choose your social media platforms and invest your time wisely. Conduct your due diligence.

Are you a new reader? Please subscribe to NLG today. Next week, I will share a "LISTICLE" with resources veteran content creators can start using this year while in creator mode on LinkedIn. See you then!