The TikTok Ban Isn’t Just About an App
TikTok has taken the world by storm since it rebranded from Musical.ly in 2017. By 2018, it became the most downloaded app in the United States. Now in 2024 TikTok has amassed over 2.05 billion global users! But this growth has been under threat since 2020. The Trump Administration requested a ban of the app for security reasons. The legal battle for TikTok ensued ever since. Leading us to the current H.R.7521- Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
What initially started off as an app for dancing quickly morphed into an app for growth. Growth of free speech, community, and careers. TikTok has even begun to replace Google for the new young adults. The app has been the catalyst for many new creators in the Indie Comic space especially. These are fresh thriving careers for writers, artists, content creators, journalists and more. When you are banning the platform that holds all these users’ success, you are banning creativity itself.
The Comic Corner of TikTok
TikTok is most notorious for its algorithm making any niche seem like the size of the world. The FYP (For You Page) personalizes the content you receive based on your previous interactions with other videos. It’s easy to feel like your FYP should be like everyone else’s because how could you not have this good of taste?!
In reality, the algorithm is only reflecting your inner world. The connecting you to people who have similar interests. But after looking at the numbers... the comic side of TikTok might actually be the whole world. #indiecomics has over 57.8k posts. While #comicbook has over 270.2K and counting! This doesn’t scratch the surface of other sub-genres of comics like manga, webtoon and more. Let alone the view count which is even bigger.
When you enter TikTok, you are connecting with hundreds of thousands of comic readers and creators. With the way the FYP works, your content has the potential of reaching this many people as well. Yet this easy access to eager viewers will be over once the TikTok ban goes in effect... back to the old days of grinding on platforms with harder reach.
Putting Your Comic in The Infinite Scroll
Self-publishing hasn’t always been as easy as it is now. The allure of working with an established publisher is not having to market or put up the upfront costs of printing. Now there’s social media, print-on-demand and more resources to help you get your comic out there. TikTok has become a huge part of this process.
TikTok gives creators a chance to market directly to their target audience. With a focus on personalized interests, your chances of meeting your ideal reader when you hit post are increased. The FYP also immerses a viewer with more content from a creator the moment they follow them. Comic creators can easily build a community around their story and journey with this feature.
TikTok’s algorithm provides more chances for virality compared to other apps. You’re rewarded for posting more in a single day. Which gains a level of visibility never seen before.
This fast and open way of releasing comics has given success to so many indie creators in recent years. The banning of this app will sever this deep connection between new comics and its readers.
The Ban is Rated E for Everyone
The ban won’t only affect Indie Comics but all entrepreneurs and businesses using TikTok. Covid was the birth of a lot of new inventions and brands while TikTok was right there to push them.
A future without TikTok will put all these creatives back at ground zero. Many followings and client bases will be lost and have to start again from scratch. Access to art, books, music and knowledge will be blocked. Some of these things we won’t be able to get back.
The Solution is Preparation
The first step to prepare for the ban is to follow all your favorite indie comic creators on other platforms. Preferably if they have an email list, sign up for it. Email is the number one way to bypass any happenings with social media as a whole. You can sign up for Midnight Comics’ email list here.
Second, get physical or downloadable copies of all your favorite comics. Reading on open-to-post sites like Webtoon isn’t enough. When you own a copy physically or digitally, you have it forever unless you personally lose it. No ban will be able to rule your reading.
Third, do some self-introspection and learn what you value in comics. Focus on those values when you pick up your next book and follow a new creator. You will always be in integrity when you support a new story and this trumps any app.
Lastly, keep up with updates on TikTok. The ban is a tricky legal situation and is in development. It’s not too late for anything to happen, life is surprising like a great comic.
留言