With the September 17 TikTok ban just days away, 170 million U.S. users are wondering whether the app will receive another extension or be permanently banned.
For many creators, TikTok has been a key source of income through brand deals, affiliate marketing, and the Creator Rewards Program. A shutdown could deal a significant blow to the $24 billion dollar creator economy.
Read more on how creators can prepare for what comes next.
How did this all start?
In April 2024, Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner by January 19, 2025, or face a U.S. ban due to national security concerns. The deadline, set just before President Trump’s inauguration, led to TikTok briefly shutting down before receiving an extension less than 24 hours later.
Since then, Trump has issued several executive orders in January, April, and June to delay the ban while attempting to strike a deal with China to keep TikTok in the U.S. Nevertheless, creators remain uncertain whether the September 17 deadline will result in another extension or a permanent ban.
What Happens Next
With TikTok’s future still uncertain, two primary outcomes remain: 1) President Trump could extend the deadline again, or 2) TikTok could be forced to sell its U.S. stake if no deal is reached.
Trump Could Extend the Deadline Again
During a press briefing on August 22, President Trump signaled that he was open to granting a fourth extension, which would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. with minimal immediate changes. This delay would continue the pattern of deadline pushes that began after the law took effect in January 2025.
An extension would give the administration more time to finalize an American ownership deal. However, previous attempts have failed due to China’s resistance and ongoing trade tensions. Still, a recent Reuters report suggested Trump and Chinese President Xi had agreed on a framework deal for TikTok, raising hopes that an extension could pave the way for a lasting solution.
U.S. May Force TikTok Sale if Talks Fail
If negotiations break down, the law still requires ByteDance to divest its U.S. stake or face a ban from American app stores. Such a move would not only disrupt the 170 million Americans who use the app but also deal a major blow to the creator economy, which relies heavily on TikTok for income and audience growth.
How Creators Can Prepare for a TikTok Ban
With TikTok’s future still uncertain, creators should be proactive about protecting their audiences and income streams. The first step is diversification: building a presence on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or other platforms to avoid over reliance on one platform. Creators should also focus on collecting first-party audience data, such as email addresses or SMS sign-ups, to maintain direct connections with their followers.
Repurposing content across multiple platforms, strengthening brand partnerships through multi-channel campaigns, and testing new revenue streams, such as affiliate links or digital products, can also help cushion the impact of a potential ban.
Finally, creators should stay up-to-date on policy updates to ensure they are ready to pivot quickly if the app disappears overnight.
