Alright, TikTok is getting banned…. or is it? The rumor mill is churning, news bits are flying, and there’s even a new Chinese app stealing some spotlight amid the chaos. So, what’s worth your attention, and what’s just noise?

Today, we’re breaking down TikTok’s ban, what’s next, and all the latest updates from the wild world of social and digital marketing—brought to you by

The Digital Dispatch from Akari & Co.

Social Media Marketing

🎬 TikTok’s Last Dance? The Countdown to January 19

TikTok’s days in the U.S. might be numbered, with a ban set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, unless the Supreme Court pulls a Hail Mary. Here’s where things stand:

Key Details

• TikTok Shutdown Looms: ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, plans to cut off U.S. access unless the ban is blocked last-minute.
  👉 Yahoo News

• Biden’s Balancing Act: While Biden isn’t enforcing the ban, he’s leaving the decision to the incoming Trump administration.
  👉 Spectrum Local News

• Trump's Expected Move: The President-elect has hinted at reversing the ban once in office, starting January 20.
  👉 BBC News

• SCOTUS Weighs In: The Supreme Court is reviewing the ban’s legality, potentially making a final call before the weekend.
  👉 AP News

• ByteDance’s Battle: ByteDance is sticking to its guns, challenging the ban as a First Amendment violation.
  👉 NBC News

• Users Jump Ship: With the app’s future in flux, TikTokers are already testing out alternative platforms, including RedNote.
  👉 CNN Tech

What’s RedNote, and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

• If TikTok goes dark, RedNote could step into the spotlight. This Chinese app has been quietly thriving since 2013, boasting over 300 million monthly users and a unique mashup of TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest vibes.

  RedNote’s Key Features

  • E-commerce Powerhouse: Users can buy products directly in-app—goodbye, external links.
    👉 BrandVM

  • Creator-First Algorithm: No followers? No problem. Everyone gets a shot at virality.
    👉 GeeksForGeeks

  • Content Variety: Beyond short videos, the app supports photos and text posts.
    👉 Metricool

  • Community Focus: Think niche groups for fashion, travel, and food lovers.
    👉 MWW Resources

  Why the Migration?

  • It feels familiar to TikTok users but with extra perks like social shopping.

  • The vibe is more lifestyle-focused than TikTok’s viral chaos.

  • A strong community helps new users adapt quickly.

The Bottom Line

With TikTok on shaky ground and the January 19 deadline looming, users and brands alike are bracing for impact. Whether the Supreme Court, Biden, or Trump alters TikTok’s fate, apps like RedNote are positioning themselves to catch the fallout.

👉 Stay tuned for the final word from SCOTUS, and keep an eye on how RedNote might reshape the short-form content game.

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Social Media Trends

The Weekly Scroll 📱:

Instagram/Facebook

📜 Meta Ditches Fact-Checking for Community Notes
Meta is swapping its fact-checking program for community notes (a.k.a. Twitter’s crowd-sourced moderation). The internet is, predictably, split—some are hailing it as a win for free speech, while others are bracing for a misinformation free-for-all.

Meanwhile, Meta also axed its DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs and added some eyebrow-raising new leadership, including UFC’s Dana White and other Republican figures. Just in time for Trump’s second act.
👉 Read More on Meta’s Updates

🎥 Trial Reels: Engagement Gold or Just Meh?
Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri spilled the tea on how trial reels work. TL;DR: Your reel can still go viral even if it’s not on your feed, but results are hit-or-miss. Our agency’s testing this feature to fine-tune hooks before going public—so far, we’re cautiously optimistic.
👉 Get the Scoop on Trial Reels

TikTok

💘 TikTok’s Valentine’s Day Tips
TikTok wants your love (campaigns) to hit differently this Valentine’s Day. From heart-melting hooks to user-generated love stories, they’ve got a guide to steal hearts and wallets.
👉 Read TikTok’s Marketing Tips

🍋 Lemon8: TikTok’s Backup Plan?
TikTok’s pushing its Lemon8 app in the U.S. amid looming bans. The catch? It’s owned by the same company, so it could face the same scrutiny.
👉 Explore Lemon8

YouTube

🎬 YouTube Makes Shorts Creation Easier
Turning long-form videos into Shorts just got simpler. YouTube is testing automated tools to trim the fluff, so creators can focus on the fun.
👉 Check Out the Update

X / Twitter / Threads

🏀 X Expands Its NBA Partnership
X (formerly Twitter) and the NBA are teaming up to bring even more hoops content to the platform. Expect highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, and maybe fewer mid-game hot takes.
👉 See the Announcement

🎭 X Algorithm Shifts to Entertainment
X is tweaking its algorithm to prioritize entertaining content. Memes? Check. Cat videos? Probably. Dry corporate updates? Good luck.
👉 Unpack the Changes

Other Platforms

🤖 AI Characters Are Taking Over Social Media
From virtual influencers to AI customer service reps, artificial intelligence is driving engagement on platforms like Instagram. The question is: Will your next collab be with a bot?
👉 Dive Into AI’s Role

📈 Boost Your Personal Brand (Literally)
LinkedIn is testing paid post boosts for personal updates. Because nothing says “professional success” like paying to flex your morning gym session.
👉 Learn About LinkedIn’s New Feature

Digital Marketing Trends/Ads

Tour de Headlines

Meta

🔍 Meta Unpacks AI Ad Wins
Meta just dropped insights on how its AI tools are driving ad performance. Spoiler: If you’re not leveraging AI, you’re leaving money on the table.
👉 Learn more

🔒 Ad Nerds, Assemble!
Meta launched a hub packed with tips, tricks, and expert interviews to up your ad game. Bookmark-worthy? Absolutely.
👉 Explore the hub

TikTok

🛒 TikTok Shop’s $100M Black Friday Blowout
In one day, TikTok Shop raked in a jaw-dropping $100 million in sales during Black Friday. E-commerce dominance? Check.
👉 Read the full story

Google / YouTube

🌟 YouTube’s Best Ads of 2024
From tearjerkers to belly laughs, YouTube revealed the ad campaigns that crushed it this year. Who’s ready to steal a little inspiration?
👉 See the list

🌐 What Did We Google in 2024?
Google’s year-end trends are here, and they’re a time capsule of viral moments, societal shifts, and probably a lot of “how to” searches.
👉 Check out the trends

🔐 Google Loosens Up on IP Address Targeting
Big news: Google reversed its policy on using IP addresses for ads, potentially reshaping how marketers approach targeting.
👉 Learn about the update

X (Formerly Twitter)

🎨 Q5 Ad Tips from X HQ
Elon’s marketing squad is dishing out advice for nailing Q5 campaigns, with a focus on high-intent shoppers. (Translation: Make that ROI sing.)
👉 Read the tips

Interesting Stats

Show these to execs when they question you:

📱 Social Media Ad Spend: Who’s Winning?
An infographic reveals where the ad dollars are flowing by platform in H1 2024. Spoiler: TikTok and Instagram are dominating, but LinkedIn is quietly climbing.

⏱️ What Happens Online Every Minute?
The 2024 version of the “internet minute” is out, and it’s chaos: millions of Google searches, TikTok scrolls, and Amazon purchases every 60 seconds.
👉 Explore the madness

📲 Social Commerce: Swipe, Tap, Buy
Three-quarters of marketers are turning social apps into digital malls. Selling directly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s the strategy. At this rate, your next impulse buy might just come from a scroll.
👉 Source

🤖 AI is Your New Coworker
Over 80% of marketers are using AI to save time and get more done. From automating workflows to rewriting text (a 103% uptick in AI-assisted content for 2024!), AI is the office MVP—just don’t let it take your lunch from the fridge.
👉 Source

📷 Instagram Stays in the Spotlight
With 44% of marketers making Instagram their 2025 darling, the app’s crown isn’t slipping anytime soon. It’s where short-form videos, product promos, and influencer magic happen—all while Mosseri fine-tunes those algorithms.
👉 Source

🔍 Social Search is the New Google
Younger generations are skipping traditional search engines and heading straight to TikTok and Instagram for their how-tos and product finds. Optimizing for social search? That’s the 2025 cheat code.
👉 Source

📞 Social Media = Customer Service
Nearly three-quarters of consumers say social media should prioritize customer service in 2025. That’s right—if your brand’s not answering DMs, you’re leaving money (and goodwill) on the table.
👉 Source

Recommendations/Resources

Tools & Apps We’re Loving Right Now 🛠️

Best AI Image Creator – Leonardo AI is blowing our minds. We’re ditching clunky design tools because this one’s got the magic touch.
👉 Give it a go

Best for Tracking TikTok Metrics & Competitor Benchmarking – TokBackup has become our secret weapon for TikTok insights. If you’re not using this, you’re flying blind.
👉 Explore TokBackup

See Competitor Ads in Real-Time – Meta Ads Library lets you spy on your competitors' strategies and campaigns. Lurking in here is basically a full-time job.
👉 Peek inside

Google Ads Campaign Insights – Google Ads Transparency Center lets you see where ad dollars are flowing. If you like data with a side of snooping, this tool’s for you.
👉 Go snoop

Best AI voiceovers - So, your talent flubbed a line, or you changed your script after recording? ElevenLabs lets you turn text into hyper-realistic voiceovers so seamless, no one will ever know.
👉 Fix it

See Competitor Ads in Real-Time – Meta Ads Library lets you spy on your competitors' strategies and campaigns. Lurking in here is basically a full-time job.
👉 Peek inside

Ad Creative Analytics - Beautiful creative reporting to help your team generate more revenue from your paid social ads.

👉 Try it out

Shower Thought  🚿💭

If you clean a vacuum cleaner, aren’t you technically the vacuum cleaner?