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• Zuck’s Threads has more daily active users than Elon Musk’s X.

• Meanwhile, Elon Musk vows to fight an Australian injunction to hide church stabbing posts.

• YouTube reports $8.1 billion in ad revenue for Q1, its highest Q1 total to date.

• Spotify’s revenue rose to a quarterly gross profit of more than $1.1bn for the first time. This comes after the company reined in its revenue spending and job cuts to reduce costs 🤔 

• Kendall Jenner and Emma Chamberlain are collaborating to bring Chamberlain Coffee and 818 Tequila together for a new espresso martini kit. Smart.

TikTok Is Banned In The US…Now What?

With US President Biden's recent signing of legislation into law, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, faces a critical ultimatum: sell the platform within a year or risk its banishment from the US app market. This landmark decision sends uncertainty through the digital landscape, particularly impacting business creators who rely on TikTok for their livelihoods.

As this new reality takes shape, the implications extend far beyond legal proceedings, touching upon broader issues of technology governance, international trade, and the future of social media platforms.

While ByteDance vows to wage a legal battle against the mandate, citing violations of free speech rights, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges. Finding a suitable buyer for a platform of TikTok's magnitude within the stipulated timeframe presents a formidable task. Moreover, the spectre of domestic and international regulatory hurdles adds layers of complexity to the divestment process.

Amidst this uncertainty, creators are faced with the urgent need to diversify their online presence and explore alternative revenue streams. Many are already exploring migration to other platforms or bolstering their presence on existing channels to mitigate potential losses. However, the broader implications of the TikTok ban reverberate across industries, impacting advertisers, influencers, and content consumers alike.

For businesses reliant on TikTok as a revenue stream, the situation demands careful navigation. While the platform remains active in the US for now, the evolving legal landscape underscores the need for contingency planning and diversification.

What should I do?

Even if the ban goes ahead, it won’t take effect until at least 2026.

This extended timeline offers creators a window of opportunity to strategise and adapt to the shifting landscape. Now is the time for you to build your following elsewhere and diversify your online presence to reduce potential losses.

I feel that an interesting trend will emerge as users consider how to protect themselves. Some might decide to leave TikTok, while others see this as a chance to work even harder, taking advantage of new opportunities.

Meta

• According to The Information, Threads is reportedly paying creators to post content related to “positivity” for a chance to win up to $500.

• Meta AI is now part of Instagram's search experience, providing real-time web results so users never have to leave the app.

READ: Meta is looking to fediverse as the future of social media, but first, what does it mean? The Verge on The fediverse, explained.

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