In a moment where TikTok narrowly escaped a permanent ban, the lesson is clear: these platforms don’t truly care about us. This isn’t just about TikTok; it’s about Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and all the other platforms where creators pour their blood, sweat, and creativity. These platforms profit from our work while controlling access to our audiences, dictating revenue streams, and leaving us vulnerable when tides turn. It’s time we focus on ownership—of our audiences, content, and revenue.
Lesson 1: Own Your Audience
When TikTok faced its recent crisis, countless creators lost their audiences overnight. Imagine an 80-year-old TikToker with 20 million followers suddenly cut off, or a creator who relied on TikTok income left in tears. The harsh reality? If you don’t own your audience, you don’t own your future.
Action Steps:
Build email lists.
Use private communities on platforms like Slack, Discord, or Signal.
Host content on your website, ensuring you own the direct relationship with your audience.
Lesson 2: Own Your Content
Your creativity is a gift, and gifts are meant to be protected. When platforms control your content, they control your legacy. Take a cue from Prince, who famously fought to own his masters, stating, “If you don’t own your masters, your masters own you.”
Action Steps:
Host original content on your platforms (websites, membership sites, etc.).
Repurpose your content strategically to extend its value across multiple channels.
Secure your intellectual property with trademarks, copyrights, and contracts.
Lesson 3: Own Your Revenue
Relying on a single platform for income is like building a house with no foundation—it’s destined to crumble. Diversify your income streams, creating a sustainable strategy that ensures long-term success.
Action Steps:
Experiment with monetization strategies: subscriptions, merchandise, courses, and fan clubs.
Use ownership-driven platforms like Kin360, Fanbase, and Substack.
Focus on premium offerings that cater to your most loyal supporters.
Why Ownership Matters
Ownership isn’t just a business strategy; it’s a path to freedom and sustainability. It’s the difference between being at the mercy of tech giants and building a lasting legacy. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once emphasized, Black America has a $1.8 trillion buying power—enough to build ecosystems that serve our communities. Yet, this power often gets funneled into platforms that exploit rather than empower.
Build Your Legacy on the Rock of Ownership
Platforms come and go, but ownership endures. TikTok’s revival is temporary. Whether it lasts 90 days or nine years, creators must seize this moment to shift from dependency to self-reliance. As Matthew 7:24-27 teaches, “The wise man builds his house on the rock,” not on the shifting sands of corporate platforms.
Final Call to Action: Start building your future today. Whether it’s joining Kin+, securing your intellectual property, or diversifying your income, the power is in your hands. Let’s honor the lessons of visionaries like Prince, Dolores Jordan, and Nipsey Hussle by creating a movement rooted in ownership, impact, and legacy.
TikTok may have been revived, but let’s not wait for another wake-up call. Let’s build something real. Let’s build something lasting. Let’s own it all.
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