As TikTok Faces Shutdown Fears, Creators Embrace Other Platforms

TikTok has made a swift recovery after its recent shutdown, regaining much of its traffic despite the earlier 85% drop, according to Cloudflare Radar.

The app’s DNS traffic is now only about 10% below pre-shutdown levels, following a brief interruption caused by legal pressure in the U.S.

The shutdown, triggered by a Supreme Court ruling upholding a law requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban, lasted for roughly 14 hours.

The situation prompted a temporary surge in traffic to alternatives like RedNote (Xiaohongshu), which saw higher traffic during the shutdown period.

Creators Expand Presence Amid Uncertainty

While TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, many creators are diversifying their presence across other platforms.

Some, like Dylan Lemay, have prepared for the worst, building a following on YouTube and other platforms to ensure their careers are protected should TikTok face a permanent ban.

However, not all creators have had the same success on alternative platforms. For instance, Noah Glenn Carter has struggled to replicate his TikTok audience on Instagram or YouTube, and brands are adjusting their deals in light of TikTok’s uncertain status.

While some creators remain hopeful TikTok will not be banned, others are hedging their bets, ensuring they have a diverse digital footprint to weather the storm.