Hello social media fanatics! For those of you who returned to work this week, hope it’s been a good one so far. Personally, I’ve been slammed (but super productive) this week catching up on all the things I put off during the last two weeks.

In today’s newsletter, I’m talking all things TikTok. I know, it’s probably been flooding all your social media feeds lately, but there’s been some new developments in the potential ban/buying of the platform in the last few days.

No strategies this week, just some news and my personal take on this whole situation.

But before we get into that, I’m curious about what you enjoy most about The Social Media Journal. If you wouldn’t mind, would you answer the short poll below to let me know what you read this newsletter for most each week? I’ll only use this info to help organize the content layout of the newsletter moving forward.

Thanks for your feedback!

Will TikTok Be Saved?

Well folks, the TikTok saga just got a new plot twist, and this time it's coming from an unexpected player in the game. Kevin O'Leary, our favorite sharp-tongued Shark Tank investor, has decided to dive into the TikTok acquisition waters alongside billionaire Frank McCourt. Their ambitious plan? To rescue the social media giant from its looming January 19th ban deadline through what they're calling the "People's Bid for TikTok."

The timing couldn't be more dramatic – with just days before the potential ban hammer drops, O'Leary and McCourt are positioning themselves as the white knights of data privacy. Their vision goes beyond just acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations; they're promising to revolutionize how user data is handled. They apparently have a lot of support — McCourt already claiming to have verbal commitments for a cool $20 billion. And let's not forget the political chess game at play here – they'll need to work with both current President Biden and incoming President Trump, who's already asking the Supreme Court for a timeout on the ban.

Now, let's talk about what this means for the rest of us mere mortals scrolling through our For You pages. If O'Leary and McCourt pull this off, we could be looking at a fascinating experiment in data democracy. Their proposal to let users "access and manage their own data" sounds like giving the keys back to the kingdom's rightful owners. Imagine a world where your viral dance videos and cooking fails are truly yours to control – revolutionary, right?

But here's where things get interesting: if the deal falls through and TikTok gets the boot on January 19th, we're looking at a digital exodus of epic proportions. Content creators who've built their livelihoods on the platform could see their empires crumble overnight. Small businesses that have mastered the art of TikTok marketing would need to scramble for new digital real estate. And let's be honest – where else are we going to get our fix of three-minute life hacks we'll never actually use?

On the flip side, a successful acquisition could set a fascinating precedent for how we handle foreign-owned tech platforms in the future. If O'Leary and McCourt can deliver on their promises, we might see a new model of social media ownership that prioritizes transparency and user control. That said, transforming a platform built on sophisticated algorithms into a user-first experience isn't exactly like flipping a house on HGTV – it's going to take some serious innovation and probably more than a few growing pains.

Either way, the clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Will Mr. Wonderful work his magic, or are we about to witness the biggest social media shutdown in U.S. history? I personally hope this doesn’t happen… (more on my views in the editorial below)

Stay tuned – this story's got more plot twists than a TikTok conspiracy theory.

Platform updates

• Meta Is Getting Rid of Fact-Checks and Switching to Community Notes

• Reddit Intros New Trends Tools for Business and an AMA Ad Format

• X Tests Dedicated Video Tab in Lower Function Bar

• Threads Prototypes Custom Display Names and Cover Images for Profiles

• Snap Shares Insights into the Benefits of AR Campaigns

This Week’s Social Media Meme

Editorial: My Personal Take on the TikTok Ban

Alright, here’s my personal take on the TikTok ban. It’s likely one shared by most social media managers/content creators, but since we’re on the topic, I figured I’d share.

Look, I get it. National security is important. We should all care about data privacy. But this whole TikTok ban situation is starting to feel like that one friend who suddenly becomes a CrossFit zealot and won't shut up about their "lifestyle change" while demolishing a Big Mac at 2 AM.

Let's start with the elephant in the room: we're about to pull the rug out from under millions of creators and small businesses who've built their entire livelihoods on this platform. We're not just talking about teenagers doing dance moves (though hey, some of them are making bank). We're talking about grandmas sharing cooking wisdom, plumbers giving free DIY advice, and small business owners who've found their tribe after struggling for years with traditional marketing. Sure, people love to say "just move to Instagram or YouTube!" like it's as simple as changing coffee shops. But that's like telling a successful restaurant owner to just pick up their entire operation and move it to a different city where nobody knows them – and oh yeah, do it by next week.

And can we talk about this data privacy pearl-clutching for a minute? Your phone knows where you get coffee, what time you go to bed, and probably what you had for breakfast. Your smart TV is watching your viewing habits like a jealous ex. Facebook probably knows what you're going to buy before you do. But suddenly TikTok is where we draw the line? Please. The average person is more worried about their DoorDash driver judging their third order of the day than they are about their data being collected. We're all living in a digital fishbowl, folks – TikTok's just the newest fish.

Here's another spicy take: this ban feels less like genuine concern for public safety and more like digital protectionism wearing a security badge. If we're so worried about foreign tech influence, why aren't we getting worked up about all the other apps and devices that are manufactured or have components made overseas? It's giving major "we're banning this particular thing because it's convenient and popular to hate on" energy.

And let's consider the ripple effects. TikTok has become a cultural powerhouse, influencing everything from music charts to book sales. It's where trends start, where movements gain momentum, and yes, where some pretty questionable life hacks are born (please don't try that microwave trick). Shutting it down won't just affect creators – it'll create a massive void in our digital culture. Remember Vine? We're still mourning its loss, and that was tiny compared to TikTok's reach.

The most ironic part? This ban could actually backfire spectacularly. Nothing makes something more appealing than telling people they can't have it. VPNs are about to have their biggest moment since Netflix started cracking down on password sharing. Plus, we're essentially telling the next generation of tech innovators that their success could be killed overnight by government decree – not exactly the message we want to send if we're trying to stay competitive in the global tech race.

Look, if we're serious about data privacy and security, let's have that conversation – but let's have it about ALL tech, not just the platforms that make for easy political talking points. Until then, this ban feels like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly while ignoring the elephant stampede in your living room.

But hey, what do I know? I'm just someone who thinks maybe, just maybe, we should think twice before nuking a platform that's become an integral part of millions of people's lives and livelihoods.

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