5 lessons you can’t ignore after the TikTok ban 🚨

As of today, TikTok is officially banned (for now) in the United States after a Supreme Court decision to uphold the law.

For millions of creators, this news will be devastating. Careers were built on it, income was generated from it - and now that could start to disappear.

Whether you use TikTok or not - there’s valuable lessons here for anyone who creates online: relying on a single platform is risky.

Here are 5 lessons you can’t afford to ignore 👇

1. Platforms Are Borrowed Land - Build Your Own

When you create on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, you’re building on land you don’t own.

Those platforms make the rules and those rules can change - or disappear - overnight.

The creators most affected by TikTok’s current ban are those who relied on it exclusively.

This is why owning your audience is so important.

So, start building your email list today.

It’s one of the few ways to maintain direct communication with your followers, no matter what happens to the platforms they found you on.

Your audience is your most valuable asset - don’t leave it in the hands of someone else.

2. Diversification Isn’t Optional

If TikTok taught us anything, it’s the power of leaning into a single platform and growing fast.

But the downside of that approach is becoming too reliant on one platform for growth and income.

This is the time to diversify your presence.

Repurpose your TikTok content for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest - or even LinkedIn if it fits your niche.

If TikTok does find a solution, you’ll already have a broader reach for the future.

3. Control What You Can

While it’s impossible to control what happens to a platform, there are plenty of things you can control.

Beyond building an email list, this might mean creating your own website or blog as a digital home base.

Why? Because your website is yours. It won’t disappear due to legal decisions or algorithm changes.

You can use it to showcase your content, offer digital products or even build a community.

4. Monetization Shouldn’t Be Platform-Dependent

For many creators, TikTok’s Creator Fund, affiliate revenue and brand collaborations were their primary sources of income.

Start exploring alternative ways to monetize your work:

• Create and sell digital products like guides, presets or courses.

• Build a subscription-based membership for exclusive content.

• Partner with brands across multiple platforms or explore sponsorships outside of social media entirely.

The more diverse your income streams, the less dependent you are on any single app or algorithm.

5. Your Brand Matters More Than Any Platform

The TikTok ban is a reminder that platforms may disappear, but the connection you’ve built with your audience don’t have to.

If people followed you on TikTok, it wasn’t just because you were on TikTok.

It was because of your personality, your ideas, and the way you connect with your audience.

This moment is an opportunity to rethink how you create.

Instead of focusing on one app’s format, think about how you can create content that works anywhere.

Build a personal brand that’s bigger than any single platform.

The Bigger Picture

Right now, TikTok’s ultimate fate is still unclear, but isn’t the first to go, and it won’t be the last.

Whatever happens, it’s a reminder that nothing lasts forever. If you want true control over your platform, you need to build it yourself.

Ultimately, your focus should on the value you bring to your audience, not the platform you’re using to share it.

That’s all for now - see you next time.

Rory, a travel creator 🤘