By Alberlynne “Abby” Woods,

Cue The Culture Editor-In-Chief

TikTok is in hot water, and its future in the U.S. is looking shaky. Lawmakers are eyeing a potential ban (yikes!) or forcing ByteDance, its China-based parent company, to sell. Why? They’re concerned about national security and how TikTok handles user data. To calm everyone down, TikTok rolled out “Project Texas,” a plan to keep U.S. user data safe—but let’s be real, the pressure is still on.

For Black creators, who basically run TikTok culture, this could be a major shift. From trending dances to iconic sound bites, Black creators have been at the heart of what makes TikTok fun. Losing the app would mean rebuilding those hard-earned audiences elsewhere—on platforms that might not hit the same when it comes to reach or discoverability.

Even now, Black creators deal with struggles on TikTok, like not getting credit for trends or feeling invisible in the algorithm. If TikTok disappears, will other platforms step up to support them better?

The bright spot? Young creators aren’t staying quiet. Influencers are taking their voices straight to Capitol Hill to demand transparency and accountability—not just from TikTok, but from lawmakers too. Mad respect to these Gen Z leaders for showing that creators have power beyond their screens.

For now, Black creators should play it smart: diversify where they post, keep their communities tight, comment and connect with favorite TikTok folks, and stay ready for what’s next. Because whether TikTok stays or goes, Black culture isn’t going anywhere.