What a Time to Be a Creator: The Great Platform Shake-up of 2025

The Creator Economy's Most Chaotic Weekend: Everything You Need to Know

Jan 21, 2025

Y'all... WHAT IS HAPPENING? These past few days have been WILD in the creator space! Let me break down everything that's happened and share my thoughts on what this means for us creators.

The TikTok Ban That Wasn't..but is?

The news: TikTok went dark for US users Saturday evening and restored access on Sunday, crediting Trump for bringing the app back. On Monday, Trump signed an executive action that delays enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days. It’s also important to note that it has been taken off the App Stores in the US, so now no one can download the app.

My take:

Even though we knew this could happen, this whole situation was a MASSIVE wake-up call. I've been saying this for years, but I'll say it louder for the people in the back: YOUR AUDIENCE NEEDS TO EXIST ON MORE THAN ONE PLATFORM! I personally think Tiktok will never be the same after this.

Instagram's Perfect Timing with "Edits"

The news: Right as creators were panicking about losing CapCut (owned by ByteDance/TikTok), Meta announced their new editing tool called "Edits,” launching in March.

My take:

I literally laughed out loud when I saw the announcement…what perfect timing, shoutout to their marketing team lol. Not going to lie, "Edits" looks promising, but if it’s anything like editing on IG, it will be a HARD pass for me. I’ll try anything out, but I'm also keeping my options open with other editing tools:

InShot: Super user-friendly and perfect for quick edits
VN Editor: Great for more complex video projects
Power Director: Similar to Capcut, but no free version.
Splice: Amazing for adding music and transitions
Adobe Premier Rush: If you want something more professional

I'll keep yall updated and share more alternatives, I am currently testing out a few. As of today CapCut is back up, but who knows for how long.

The AI Order Repeal

The news: Remember back in November, when I posted about what Trump’s win could mean for creators and talked about potential changes to AI regulation? Well, it's happening! Trump's repeal of the previous AI Executive Order is now making waves in the creator economy.

My take:

The removal of Biden's order eliminates requirements for AI safety testing and reporting to the government. This approach may accelerate the development of AI-powered creative tools and technologies, but it also increases risks related to AI ethics and data privacy in creative applications.

3 min Reels

The news: When Reels launched in 2020 it was 15 seconds. In 2021 they bumped it up to 30 seconds, then 60 seconds, and the following year in 2022 it was bumped up again to 90 seconds. Now we are up to 3 mins.

My take:

Ok, cool….but IG please just make up your mind. I will say, it seems like watch time is becoming more and more important on the platform. I will be diving into more of this plus more factors that go into the algorithm in my strategy series coming soon. In the meantime here is Mosseri(Head of IG) literally breaking down the CURRENT ranking system that goes into the algorithm. I say current because things change over there every 3-5 business days lol.

Zara is on LTK

The News: I got an email today from the Zara Ambassadors team announcing this change in their affiliate marketing program. The will be transitioning from Captiv8 to LTK.
My take:
I’m not sure why this shift wasn’t made sooner, but I think it’s a smart move, and creators are definitely excited about this change.

Meta Paying Tiktok Creators to Migrate?

The News: Meta is paying eligible Tiktok creators monthly bonuses of $10K to $50K to prioritize posting content on IG Reels before other platforms.

My take:

If the updated rectangular grid and the introduction of 3-minute Reels weren’t clear indicators, it should now be obvious that Instagram is actively courting TikTok creators. Will this strategy succeed? Not sure, but given the potential shifts or decline in TikTok’s appeal, then I don’t see why creators shouldn’t capitalize on this bonus opportunity.

Click Here to Apply to Meta’s Breakthrough Bonus Program

Final Thoughts

If this weekend taught us anything, it's that the creator economy is more unpredictable than ever. But you know what? That's not necessarily a bad thing. These shake-ups force us to innovate, diversify, and build more sustainable businesses.

For all my creators out there feeling overwhelmed - take a deep breath. Use this as motivation to start building your platform-independent presence.

Remember: Platforms come and go, but your voice and your community are what really matter. Focus on building relationships that can survive any platform changes or bans.

What do you think about all these changes? How are you planning to diversify your platform presence? Please let’s chat, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.