The tea on TikTok
Is this the end?
So… TikTok might finally be getting the axe. Or will it? With all the news in the past week regarding the fate of our favorite platform to spend hours a night on, we’ve rounded up some information for our creator friends on career paths, competing platforms, monetizing models, and how Vimeo can help.
So whether you do your little dances à la the Demelio sisters, have amassed a following from making ping-pong trick shots, or simply love sharing delicious meals, you, too, can stay informed and confidently make your next move.
Why a ban is possible: A refresher
The US government officially banned TikTok on January 19th 2025 due to concerns about national security and data privacy; however, it's still working for most users because TikTok is fighting the ban in court, arguing it's unfair and that it poses no security risk. While the courts decide, the government has temporarily allowed TikTok to continue operating. This means you can still use it – for now.
The driving force behind banning TikTok in the US is that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China. This has caused a wave of concerns that the Chinese government could access US user data through TikTok and therefore breach national security. The government is also concerned that TikTok could be used to spread misinformation or propaganda that favors China. Even if the Chinese government doesn't directly access data, there are general concerns about how TikTok collects and uses user information.
What a full ban means for creators
A full ban could disrupt things for a lot of creators dependent on TikTok for exposure – and income. If the app doesn’t go completely dark, users should expect it to stop working properly because it will no longer get updates or bug fixes.
For those that make money from posting popular videos on TikTok, the TikTok Creator Fund will also go away. The Creator Fund is a pool of money set aside by TikTok to be given to creators who generate a lot of views or time spent on the app. Recipients need to meet certain requirements, like having at least 10,000 followers and some recent popular videos. The more views and engagement videos get, the more money these individuals can earn. Think of it like getting a small bonus for every view!
In the past, TikTok has used the Creators Fund to keep creators making content, attract new talent, and compete with other platforms. If you are a creator who generates more money from the Creator Fund than brand sponsorships, selling merchandise, or promoting your own business, you might be more affected by the TikTok ban than other influencers.
With TikTok potentially being shuddered, all users should prepare to lose all the videos stored on the platform, or find a way to back them up… but more on that later.
Do some soul searching
Planning your next move
So you’ve decided to leave TikTok, but the question remains: “What now?” First, might we recommend asking yourself some questions about your career trajectory and where you see yourself in the next five years. Here are some things to consider:
- Who do you most admire: Martin Scorsese or Mr Beast? While there’s no right answer, these are two distinct paths of media. Start focusing on what you’re drawn to, be they newest viral meme or what Roger Deakins had for breakfast. Looking for the latest and greatest in indie filmmaking? Head to vimeo.com/watch.
- Consider whether you enjoy solo projects or working on a team. It’s been said, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In this context, I would consider solo content creation having just as much probability of going viral, as many social media platforms emphasize humor or story over production value. If you are looking to hone the craft of filmmaking, visual storytelling, etc and you’re part of a larger crew that feels the same, perhaps filmmaking is for you. More people = more money = more resources.
- Analyze your budget. The great Wu Tang Clan put it best: Cash Rules Everything Around Me. Simply put, there is a lower barrier of entry to being a social media creator than a filmmaker. Not that that ever stopped a single filmmaker, ever.
- Examine your arsenal. Were you first in line for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, or are you shooting on a found Super 8? Are you a gimbal god, or are you saving for a Red? While each aforementioned piece of filmmaking equipment can be used for content creation or filmmaking, your equipment, turnaround time, and visual style could offer clues to the types of content you want to be creating more of.
- Find your favorite part of production. Are you drawn to planning and pre-production? Do you like filming or being in front of the camera? Are you a ruthless editor? Do you like selling the completed product?
Hopefully these questions will help guide you in your future as whatever type of creator you choose.
Non-linear career paths
Need career-pivot inspo? A handful of world-famous creators started in advertising and content marketing before eventually finding their way to film. Ridley Scott, for example, directed this Hovis Bread ad in 1973 and David Fincher directed this disturbing 1985 Public Service Announcement about the dangers of smoking while pregnant. Content creator Andrew Bachelor, known online as King Bach, started his career on the now-defunct platform Vine (RIP), and has transitioned in comedy and film and television. He currently has a whopping 25 million followers on Instagram.
Your next steps
How Vimeo can help
Vimeo also offers a wide range of tools for whatever type of content you create, from hosting, simple editing, and an easy-to-use teleprompter, to storage options for all your big film files and single-link sharing to quick collaboration.
If you’ve already committed to staying on the path of content creator, here are some ways Vimeo can help. Feeling compelled to stay parked in front of the camera? Address your audience with ease and never stumble over long-winded messages again thanks to our teleprompter. Who knows, perhaps your career will parlay to a role as a future news anchor or game show host.
For our filmmakers, how you use Vimeo might look a little different. If you’re into film, then upload your shorts for a chance to get featured on vimeo.com/watch, the ultimate hub for indie film.
If you’re not quite ready to share your work, we offer robust storage options for you to house all your projects in one place. You can even upload and continue to edit using our one-link tool, which helps filmmakers easily collaborate with editors, colorists, and producers, without having to continuously share an updated link. Plus, we even save all older versions of your film, should you decide perfection is at the end of another edit.
Regardless of the content of your videos, it's important to get them off TikTok before you lose them forever. To do that, simply download your videos using the "Save video" option. From there you can use Vimeo’s editor to meet the size requirements of your new platform of choice, then upload to Instagram Reels, RedNote, Lemon8, or other alternatives. More on that here.
Monetizing content
Make sure your videos are making you money
Whether you were making money off sponsorships, selling merch, promoting your business, or if you were one of the lucky ones benefiting from the TikTok Creator Fund, we’re here to help you maintain your income stream. In fact, we have a whole section dedicated to monetizing your content on our blog.
We also want to help you diversify by supporting you in building and maintaining an audience that is tied to you and your work – never a platform.
How to get your videos to appear in more places
Another important, but often overlooked, strategy to monetize videos is exposure. Why? Because more video views means more opportunities for people to buy your product or hire you for your skillset. Check out these tips on embedding your videos for increased viewership.
Another way to boost exposure? Check out our SEO automation tool to help get videos discovered by new audiences online. We work with Google to index public videos in order to become discoverable via search and therefore gain wider viewership. Without SEO, the only way for new viewers to find your videos is via a direct link.
The current state of TikTok
A parting thought
Nobody knows for sure what will happen next. TikTok might be forced to shut down in the US, or it might reach a deal with the government to stay. We hope this article was informative, should the ban take effect, and helpful for those looking to make decisions about the future.
As always, we recommend that you follow reputable new sources to stay informed as the news continues to unfold. In the meantime, enjoy TikTok while you can, but remember to be mindful of your privacy and take steps to protect your videos and your future as a creator.
