Is TikTok Getting Banned in 2025? What Creators Need to Know
Is TikTok getting banned in 2025? This question has been top of mind for every content creator and influencer we’ve spoken to over this last year. I think it’s important we spend some time going through the facts about the TikTok ban and what it means for creators and their earnings. I’ll take you through the current timeline of events, what we can expect come January 19th and the importance of diversifying your income as a creator. I also sat down with Bryce of Social Army to get his thoughts on how creators will be affected by this ban.
Timeline Around The TikTok Ban
In March 2024, The House of Representatives passed a bill forcing TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok to another company within 165 days. If ByteDance fails to sell TikTok by January 19th, 2025, the app will be banned in the United States. By April 2024, the Senate passed the bill and President Biden signed it into effect.
TikTok and ByteDance sued the US federal government in May 2024, claiming the bill to be unconstitutional and that it violates the 2nd Amendment, freedom of speech. On December 6th, the US Court of Appeals denied TikTok’s challenge and upheld the ban. TikTok and ByteDance asked for an emergency 90-day pause on the ruling and are asking the Supreme Court to consider their case.
A Quick Recap of the Timeline:
-
- March 2024: House of Representatives passes bill to ban TikTok
- April 2024: Senate passes the bill to Biden
- April 2024: Biden signs the bill to ban TikTok
- May 2024: TikTok and ByteDance sue the US Federal Government
- December 6, 2024: US Court of Appeals denies TikTok’s challenge
- December 9, 2024: TikTok and ByteDance asked for a 90-day pause on the bill and escalated the case to the US Supreme Court
Is TikTok getting banned in 2025?
At this point, the jury is still out. January 19th is fast approaching and it is only becoming a bigger concern for content creators and influencers who rely on the platform for their businesses. Bryce Lapham from Social Army emphasizes the fact that TikTok creators have developed transferable skills that will help them succeed on other platforms.
When I spoke with Bryce, he said, “I would love to see TikTok last. But hindsight’s 2020. The future is unknown. I can’t stress on things that I don’t know are going to happen. We’ve all developed skills that we can apply to other areas, like the Amazon Influencer Program, Instagram Shops, YouTube channels, or even Pinterest.”
While their community is full of TikTok creators, Social Army does emphasize teaching skills and strategies that will work across the Internet. Bryce continued, “Do I want TikTok to stay? Of course. Is it going to go away? I have absolutely no idea. But like I tell everyone, you might as well milk it for everything it’s got before it does go away. Our goal is to be the hub for everything social commerce, whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, or promoting Amazon products.”
How To Prepare For The Potential TikTok Ban
Since the situation is still in the air, it is an opportunity to start thinking about your content and how you can take matters into your own hands. Creators and influencers can post their content on other platforms to diversify their income streams. They’ve built up affiliate marketing skills on TikTok Shop that make this a generally easy transition.
It is very likely that Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts both introduce formats similar to TikTok Shop after the ban. Even if the app isn’t banned, it would be surprising if Instagram and YouTube didn’t compete in that space. TikTok has been incredibly lucrative for both users and brands, so I expect the gap in that market will be filled quickly if the app were to get banned.
Accounting and Tax Services For Content Creators and Influencers
We work with creators and influencers across every platform to handle their taxes and bookkeeping so they can focus on what they love doing most: creating content. We take pride in saving creators thousands of dollars on their taxes so they can focus on growing their businesses. If you are a creator who wants to work with an accountant who understands your job, book a call with us today!