The TikTok ban is only a few days away, so creators’ futures are at a turning point. This is what to anticipate.
The Legal Challenge And TikTok Ban
Last April, Joe Biden approved a bill that is titled the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” which basically bans the use of the application in the US unless its parent company, Byte Dance, divests from it by the 19th of January.
Last Year, ByteDance, TikTok and many influencers on the app filed a petition in the Washington D.C. Circuit of Appeal Courts arguing that the ban is unconstitutional since it goes against the first amendment which protects TikTok and its 170 million users in the US. While they defended their action by claiming it was a matter of national security, the D.C. Circuit Court sided with them and the ban was allowed on the 6th of December. You can find the decision over here.
TikTok requested the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling made by the Circuit Court and temporarily remove the ban placed on it before January 19. The request was made on December 18. In the same month, the Supreme Court did not agree to pause the ban however, they decided to hear the case and set a fast timeline. Filed documents, briefs and petitions are available here.
Seeking the overthrow of the ruling made by the Circuit Court, TikTok creators as well as the US Government’s lawyers faced the justices at the Supreme Court on January 10. Transcripts of the conversations with the justices can be found online.
The position has now changed since each side of the case has presented their argument which the Supreme Court will review before making a decision on whether or not to ban TikTok.
Access to the TikTok App Following the Deadline of January 19
The newest and latest update regarding the ban states that if the prohibition is placed, the resources or time needed to access the TikTok app will be limited. “In December, after the D.C. Circuit Court’s judgement, the lawmakers sent a letter to Google and Apple ordering them, in the event of a TikTok ban, to be actively involved in the preparations.” Sn T. Users will not be able to download the app from January 19 as per the “TikTok ban which states that app stores and website hosting services which are permitted to distribute TikTok apps will no longer be accepted while other restrictions are announced which will cut off many resources.”
Previously established TikTok accounts shall remain accessible for the users, however, They won’t be able to make any further updates nor will they be able to access the app via a desktop device. With time, without further desirable modifications, the application will becoming useless for content creators. To this end, TikTok has stated both in their court papers and during the hearing at the Supreme Court that should the order prohibiting the app is restored, the app will “go dark.”
How to Get Your TikTok Account Information
In accordance with TikTok’s guidance, they are able to download their data through multiple videos by requesting it via the app. Primarily, they provide users with their account data, and in such a case, users have to partake in the most mundane copy-and-paste process. This involves going through a dense RTF file to find demo videos and repost them without the TikTok watermark and repeats it for any additional details like likes, comments, discussions, messages, and saved footage. I found this creator’s helpful video showing people how to do this. Users have previously indicated the availability of automation tools or programs such as faves that assist in self downloading of content. To go for a more manual approach, Youtube creators could avail of the numerous video tutorials available to aid in the demomstration.
Your Content Rights on TikTok
Creators may have limited control over their content even if they are able to extract their data. For starters, a copyright grants exclusive rights to an original creative expression, such as a photograph, video, a book, and so on. Specifically, however, it is limited to only what the content author was able to create, and not elements that he may use.
The legal aspects of content ownership and copyright are no longer independent of each other. With music, viral sounds, and TikTok specific features, creators engage themselves in diverse ranges of content creation.
As owners, copyright law in general gives creators the right to determine publication outlets of their content and provides for content licensing to other persons and/or legal entities This document sets out the terms under which TikTok creators retain ownership over their original content but grant TikTok and its followers wide ranging permissions (license) for their content including the right to access, amend, and distribute such content on other media. Although TikTok’s terms of service provide users with a great deal of latitude as to what they may do with TikTok user content, they do not provide users with licensing rights over the music and sound libraries of the application, which is essential to the majority of content creators.
Other than the copyright pitfalls, creators must also review the policies of other platforms. Unoriginal or pirated content, for instance, Meta users are not allowed to circulate it. While still collectively most of music, many sounds that make popular (give or take a couple of days after it has gone viral on Tiktok) and even content are shared among other social platforms, those who are active in such platforms should be careful of the absence when there is such a case. In the end, the enforcement of the rights rests with the original owners of the viral sound, music, or video.
Where Do You Point Your Viewers?
No Lemon8.
Loss of this platform is one of the biggest effects of this ban. As creators get used to the fact and effect of the ban, it is important to keep as much of the audience they have as possible. Some of the creators have already started doing this by redirecting their audience to some other apps, but not to the right ones.
Read Also: How To Signup For A Rednote App Like Tiktok
Even though the law has been referred to as ‘the American TikTok ban,’ do not let the terminology fool you. The term refers to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act which encompasses all social applications developed by Byte Dance Ltd, including Lemon8. Therefore, it is safe to say that Lemon8 will most likely be banned as well under this restriction.
Some creators (myself included) are now telling their followers to switch to Instagram or YouTube. Plus, there has been some buzz about other Tik Tok competitors which include Neptune and Fanbase among others.
TikTok Brand Partnerships Are Another Factor to Take Into Account
For creators with a tiktok oriented partnership, its imperative to go through the terms of the contracts thoroughly, as well as reach out to the relevant individuals for a potential tbroad discussing the next course of action. A set date increases the chances of making reckless decisions when adapted, which may result in issues when the content creation and distribution is solely dependent on one platform, or tiktok, along with its advertising methods. Maybe a few deals are altered by this approach. Regardless, it is definitely helpful to look at things up and plan for them well before the deadline on January 19th.
Utilizing Content Syndication for Broader Reach
An efficient method for expanding outreach is the taking of TikTok material and redistributing it throughout a plethora of online platforms. Content syndication ensures that the original authors remain in possession of their artefacts whilst expanding their readership and visibility.
How It Works
Video Distribution: Redistributing videos to other platforms, such as Snapchat Spotlight and Pinterest (Idea Pins), or LinkedIn so as to enhance engagement and interactivity with fresh audiences.
Collaborations: Seek out and collaborate with blogs, websites, or media publishers that are creator-focused and will help maximize exposure.
Content Aggregators: As an example, Medium and Vocal Media create opportunity for creators to incorporate videos among the articles they have produced thus increasing their audience reach and author exposure.
Conclusion
The prospects of a TikTok ban has thrown a wave of uncertainty by the content creators but it also encapsulates new avenues for change and growth. The creators can work on legal avenues like extending over a couple of other platforms, building a robust self-sufficient online presence, or another avenue, content syndication to make sure that they survive irrespective of what happens to TikTok. It is crucial to be up to date and in a state of readiness when it comes to volatility of the digital world. From collaborating with smaller target-specific platforms or making new edits to old posts, out of the many features available, focusing on the niche is one of the best ways for the authors to protect their content and audience.
With the January 19 deadline close by, the authors should make a rational decision on legal considerations, assess their ownership and take steps which will help them in taking a positive step forward all thanks to the ban, if TikTok goes through. There is a need to stay focused on the new plans.