Your TikTok Ban Roadmap

Navigating New Legislation and Its Broader Implications

In a significant move by the U.S. government, the House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at banning TikTok (referred to here as TT), citing national security risks and concerns over foreign influence. This decision, now bolstered by President Biden signing the “Peace Through Strength Act,” mandates that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, sell the app or face a national ban. This legislation could reshape the social media landscape, raising critical questions for users, creators, and businesses alike.

Understanding the Legislation

The bill that Biden signed gives ByteDance 270 days to divest itself of TikTok, with a potential 90-day extension if deemed necessary by the President. This is under the stipulation that failure to comply would result in a national ban. Furthermore, Division D, Sec 2 of the act prohibits entities in the United States, like the App Store or Google Play Store, from distributing, updating, or maintaining any website or application operated by ByteDance, TikTok, or certain other entities after the deadline.

The Impact on Users and Creators

This legislative move creates a precarious situation for creators who rely on TikTok for audience engagement and income. If TikTok is banned or fundamentally changed, it would highlight the vulnerability of building a business solely on social media platforms, which can be unpredictably disrupted by legislative changes or corporate decisions.

The Age of Ownership for Creators

This emphasizes the importance of creators shifting from "renting" their audiences on platforms controlled by others to "owning" their audiences. This concept is analogous to building on a solid foundation rather than on shifting sand, which refers to the unpredictable and ever-changing policies of social media platforms that can influence visibility and engagement drastically without notice.

The Power of Email Lists

The passage underlines the strategic advantage of having an email list, describing it as both an offensive and defensive tool:

• Defensively, an email list shields creators from the whims of social media algorithms and platform changes that can obscure their content from viewers.
• Offensively, it allows direct, personal communication with followers who have explicitly expressed interest in their content, enhancing engagement and fostering a deeper connection.

Creating Sustainable Revenue

The focus then shifts to the idea of creating a sustainable business model through recurring revenue. This is described as money that flows into the business regularly, providing a stable financial base that isn't as susceptible to the fluctuations of social media trends or platform rules.

Roadmap to Independence

1. Creating an Email List: The first practical step towards independence is building an email list. This allows creators to maintain direct contact with their audience, independent of social media platforms.
2. Developing a Landing Page: The next step involves setting up a simple landing page that can serve as a focal point for gathering email addresses. This page should clearly communicate what subscribers will receive in exchange for their email, making it an effective tool for converting followers into subscribers.
3. Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Creators are encouraged to develop a USP for their newsletters that resonates with their audience's interests and needs, based on successful content they have already produced.

The overarching theme is empowering creators to take control of their digital presence and economic future by building and owning their distribution channels rather than relying on third-party platforms that can change the rules at any time. This not only secures a creator's independence but also builds a business with a stable foundation that can withstand external pressures.

If you are a creator or digital thought leader and you want to own your audience but aren't sure where to start, grab this free resource that walks you step by step through the process here.

- The Level Up Team