Albert Fong’s Post

A couple of thoughts on the situation with #TikTok in the US: ▪️ The game is not over, but… A tough fight is ahead for TikTok: with all the love and support from the US users, creators, brands, and most importantly, the best professional lawyers, it will be complicated to persuade the US Government to change its stance. ▪️ Differentiate now! At the same time, as uncertainties swirl, creators and brands must be adaptable and consider strengthening their presence on other platforms. So, why not give YouTube Shorts a shot? (Yep, I might be biased, but hey, can you blame me?) ▪️ The national security is not a joke The Ukrainian experience: I have heard firsthand stories from a couple of my acquaintances who endured russian captivity, including interrogations where the messaging history from their deleted Telegram accounts (the russian-owned platform) was used against them. So, I would not underestimate the risks foreign-owned social platforms pose to national security, especially in the current geopolitical situation. (By the way, the US-owned social media platforms are not allowed to operate in the Chinese market “for some reason,” remember?) I hope TikTok lands in good hands and continues its success story in the US market. It is not just a Gen Z thing — it's a place for everyone to let loose and connect creatively. I’m not even talking about the number of creators' businesses that have grown with the help of this platform. What’s your stake in how the TikTok story in the US will unfold?

US bans TikTok. What's next? The recent ban on TikTok in the United States has left many questioning: What's next? In a world where social media greatly influences our daily lives, this move is significant. TikTok has become an essential platform for expression, creativity, and even branding for many individuals and businesses. With millions of users engaged in creating and sharing content, the repercussions of this ban could be wide-ranging. This situation reminds me of my own experience with the rise of social media platforms. When Instagram first gained popularity, I initially hesitated to dive in. However, when I finally embraced it, it transformed how I connected with others and expanded my professional network. The sudden ban on a platform like TikTok can leave users feeling disconnected. The implications of banning TikTok extend beyond just user engagement. Consider these statistics: in 2023, TikTok had over 1 billion active users, many of whom rely on the app for news, entertainment, and community. The ban affects not only these users but also the creators and businesses that rely on the platform for marketing, promotions, and outreach. What do you think about the TikTok ban? Is it necessary for national security, or does it infringe on personal freedoms? How do you foresee this affecting content creators and businesses dependent on TikTok? We must remain vigilant and adaptive in this fast-paced digital landscape. If you are a content creator, consider moving your audience to alternative platforms to maintain your engagement. It's crucial to build a diversified online presence. Let’s open up the discussion! Share your thoughts and experiences below! #TikTokBan #SocialMedia #DigitalMarketing #ContentCreation #FutureOfSocialMedia Source: "https://lnkd.in/eJmK3SAG"

The fight between #TikTok and the US government isn’t over, with TikTok expected to launch an intense legal battle. But the app’s fate also rests in the hands of US users, creators and brands. TikTok has a lot of loyal users, many of whom came out in force to defend the app and will likely do so again. TikTok knows how to rally its troops. The uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future could spook some advertisers, but they won’t leave as long as there are audiences to reach. And many advertisers have said they won’t change their spending plans until next year (though that was before the Senate passed the bill). Creators will stay as long as there is money to be made. TikTok is now the third largest influencer marketing platform in terms of US marketer spending, at an expected $1.4 billion in 2024, per EMARKETER. But if the impending uncertainty sends TikTok’s audience running for higher ground in big enough numbers, that could lead to TikTok’s undoing before the matter is resolved in the courts - or before TikTok could find a buyer. I joined Bloomberg News yesterday before the Senate passed the bill to talk about the process to find a buyer and what a potential sale could look like. Spoiler alert: Without the algorithm, TikTok’s price tag would fall, but it would be a far less attractive deal. Is TikTok even TikTok without its algorithm? Full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dB4NbF3D

📌Differences between Facebook and TikTok ads? - Part 2 4⃣️ Social interaction Facebook has strong social interaction features, supporting likes, comments, and shares to expand influence, while TikTok has high interactivity, supporting swiping, liking, commenting, and sharing to enhance engagement.📣 5⃣️ Advertising Effectiveness Measurement Facebook provides detailed data, including exposure, clicks, etc., for easy optimisation, while TikTok has rich data monitoring tools to monitor the effect in real time and support data-driven optimisation.🔍 6⃣️ Budget and Delivery Flexibility Facebook has a variety of ad formats and placement options, flexible budget control, TikTok has a clear budget requirements, suitable for advertisers of different sizes, but the starting threshold is higher.🌟 #TikTokads #Facebookads #Campaign #AdPlacement I hope you've found this thread helpful. Follow me @PocheDigital for more. 🧡

As TikTok faces a potential ban in the United States starting January 19, 2025, creators and brands are looking for alternatives. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has $8 billion in annual U.S. ad revenue and 170 million monthly users, and a ban is expected to significantly change the social media marketing landscape. Q1. How would a TikTok ban reshape the US social media ad market? Q2. How will creators' income diversification strategies evolve? Q3. What are the chances of ByteDance's sale to TikTok actually happening? https://lnkd.in/gMpatWiP

TikTok getting banned in the US?! 🤯 The rumours have been circulating for a while, but a recent US court deemed a potential TikTok ban constitutional, with a deadline to sell the platform by January 19th. This decision highlights not just the importance of data privacy, but also the growing trend of digital nationalism, where platforms and data are seen as extensions of national sovereignty. Some brands might just straight up lose a big chunk of their audience because of this shift. But what does this mean for you? 🔐 Diversification is non-negotiable: It’s time to stop putting all your eggs in one basket. Think about how your brand can start leveraging platforms like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts to spread your reach. 🫶 TikTok’s impact won’t be forgotten: TikTok hasn’t just been a social platform – it’s shaped culture, trends, and communities. A ban would disrupt this ecosystem, forcing brands to rethink how they can still be playful, creative, and engaging elsewhere. (And let’s be real, the FOMO will be huge for US brands while the rest of the world keeps scrolling) 📈 New opportunities are knocking: While it’s a challenge, this is also a chance to explore emerging platforms and formats before they’re overcrowded. It’s also a moment to invest in owned media like blogs, newsletters, and community-focused strategies to keep audiences engaged. Here’s what you can do now: 1️⃣ Audit your social strategy. Where are you over-reliant on TikTok, and where can you find new opportunities to reach your audience? 2️⃣ If you work with influencers, find out where they’re moving next and start building those relationships now. This could be the start of a whole new era in digital marketing. The question is: will you adapt? #TikTokBan #SocialMediaStrategy #MarketingTrends #TikTokAlternatives

TikTok’s ban in the United States will reshape the social media landscape. With 170 million monthly users in the U.S., TikTok’s American audience is not only large but exceptionally profitable, generating an estimated $10 billion in revenue in 2024 alone—half of ByteDance’s total global revenue. “The U.S. market is the most profitable market of any market by a long shot,” said Mark Zgutowicz. The ban was upheld by the Supreme Court. While ByteDance’s other products, such as Douyin in China, remain lucrative, the U.S. ban could have cascading effects with users and advertisers likely migrating to competitors like Instagram and YouTube. Analysts estimate that as much as 85% of TikTok’s U.S. revenue could shift to these platforms, creating opportunities for them to capture TikTok’s former market share. The potential user migration to platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts reflects TikTok’s unique appeal, particularly its algorithmic personalization that enabled relatively unknown creators to reach vast audiences. “People who were spending hours a day on TikTok are not just going to go away and replace that time with reading a book,” said TD Cowen. Internally, the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future has led to significant staff turnover with departures of high-level executives and a 38% increase in employee exits in the latter half of 2024. My take: 1. There were legitimate national security risks with TikTok that cannot be dismissed. 2. But, there's still a gap because TikTok legitimately had better personalization. 3. We need more competition in the digital intermediary space - that is the real, long-run solution. Read more in the The New York Times story below. #TikTokBan #ByteDance #SocialMedia #DigitalEconomy #TechRegulation #USMarket #AIAlgorithms #GeopoliticsInTech https://lnkd.in/eGGn2m2e

This week a U.S. federal appeals court upheld a ruling to ban TikTok, requiring the company to divest its Chinese ownership by January 2025 in order to be able to operate in the US. Interesting side note: 170 million users in the US. According to the Business Insider 32% of Americans consider TikTok a threat to national security. I wonder if there is an overlap of these thirds of the country that both use TikTok but also agree it’s a national threat? You tell me. Potential impact to the consumer brands: TikTok has become a dominant platform for reaching Gen Z and Millennials, offering unique opportunities for organic content, influencer collaborations, and paid ads. Brands relying on TikTok Ads or influencer partnerships could face disruptions in customer acquisition and brand awareness efforts This is also a risk for many newly minted TikTok agencies, and influencers and content creators. What are the chances of this ban to go into effect, and what will TikTok do? There are many venues TikTok to explore to fight this, including Supreme Court appeal, mobilize public and business support, negotiate with the US regulators, to name few. We don’t need to panic, but if TikTok channel has been a brand growth and customer acquisition channel for you, pencil your 2025 investment planning for this platform until after January 2025. Get insights and debriefs like this in my Amazon Digest letter: https://lnkd.in/eKQtTqkE

Marketing News 📢 - The survey uncovered that Instagram Instagram outperforms TikTok in attracting users through video content When queried about their allocation of user acquisition expenditure between Instagram and TikTok, 79% of participants directed a minimum of 75% of their budget towards Instagram, as per findings by Zoomd. 🔹 Here's a concise breakdown🔹 : According to comprehensive global research by Zoomd, marketers show a clear preference for Instagram as their primary platform for video-based user acquisition, a finding exclusively shared by Marketing Dive. When the respondents were asked to divide their user acquisition expenditure between Instagram and TikTok, a significant 79% chose to allocate at least 75% of their budget to Instagram, in contrast to a maximum of 25% for TikTok. However, when queried about the media sources they engaged with in 2023, 53% of respondents reported utilizing both TikTok and Instagram. The survey took place in February and March 2024, preceding the approval by U.S. lawmakers of a bill mandating TikTok's separation from its Chinese ownership or risking a potential ban in the country, a situation currently being legally contested by the ByteDance-owned company. #Nakatomi #NaaktomiNews

🚨 The TikTok Ban: What It Means for Marketers, Businesses, and Everyday Users 🚨 TikTok isn’t just another social media app, it’s been a cultural phenomenon, a marketing goldmine, and, let’s face it, a daily source of serotonin for millions. But with the U.S. government’s looming January 2025 deadline requiring ByteDance to divest its ownership, or face a nationwide ban, the platform’s future hangs by a thread. So, what does this mean for marketers, businesses, and users? Here’s the breakdown: ➡️ For Marketers and Businesses: TikTok accounted for $8.66 billion in U.S. ad revenue in 2024. If the platform disappears, those dollars (and the strategies behind them) will need to pivot to Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other platforms. Influencer marketing will also take a hit as creators transition and adapt to new spaces. ➡️ For Small Businesses: Many small businesses that relied on TikTok’s organic reach will face challenges transitioning to platforms with steeper pay-to-play models like Instagram and Facebook. Diversifying marketing channels and investing in owned media (email lists, websites) will be critical. ➡️ For Everyday Users: From dance challenges to life hacks, TikTok has been more than entertainment—it’s been a community. Alternatives like Instagram and YouTube offer similar features, but they don’t quite capture TikTok’s algorithm magic. If the ban goes through, users will need to rethink their digital habits and content consumption. ➡️ Why It’s Happening: The ban is rooted in national security concerns. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, could be compelled to share data with the Chinese government. While this debate highlights critical questions about privacy and tech policies, it’s a wake-up call for all of us about the platforms we depend on. 💡 The Takeaway: Whether you’re a marketer, small business owner, or casual user, it’s time to adapt. Explore alternative platforms, diversify your strategies, and stay informed, because the digital landscape is always evolving. #TikTokBan #DigitalMarketing #SocialMedia #ContentStrategy #NationalSecurity Read the entire post here: https://lnkd.in/gsmfHcGs