TikTok has been a launchpad for Black creators for years, shaping trends and driving viral moments that influence global culture.
TikTok users were relieved after the app was temporarily shut down after less than a day. President Donald Trump promised to pause the ban by executive order to keep TikTok operating for 75 days. Trump’s order could give ByteDance more time to find a buyer.
Nothing is set in stone, so creatives need to be smart about diversifying their content on different platforms and searching for alternatives that offer both creative freedom and fair compensation. One of the most promising options, you ask? Fanbase is a Black-owned social media platform founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Isaac Hayes III, son of legendary R&B singer Isaac Hayes.
Fanbase blends social networking with content monetization. Unlike TikTok’s algorithm, which has been criticized for allegedly suppressing Black content and failing to credit Black creators, Fanbase offers a model where users can directly support influencers.
“Black culture has always been a blueprint, but for too long, our innovation was contained by infrastructures that required heavy hardware, construction, and manufacturing spaces we didn’t own,” Hayes said on his Instagram page. “This is our moment to build and invest in infrastructures we own, so the platforms that profit from our creativity serve us.”
Users can engage with posts by “Liking” or “Loving” content—a monetized action allowing creators to earn directly from their audience. The app offers subscription options ranging from $2.99 to $99.99 for exclusive content. This approach shifts the power dynamic, ensuring Black creators are fairly compensated for their work rather than relying solely on brand deals or unpredictable algorithmic boosts.
For those looking to support the platform further, Fanbase also allows users to invest in the company. The minimum investment starts at $399. The opportunity to own a piece of the platform adds another layer of appeal for users committed to building a sustainable space for Black digital creators.
A 2021 study by The Influencer League found that influencers of color earn 29% less than their white counterparts, with the gap widening to 35% when looking exclusively at Black creators.
Social Media Users React
The potential TikTok ban has ignited conversations across social media, with many Black users sharing their thoughts about the app.
“We are going to an app that does not shadow ban POC (people of color) and suppress us from uplifting our voices and sharing our stories going on in the community,” one user wrote on TikTok. “I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard Black people on this app saying that TikTok is not for them. They just tend to suppress your content.”
Another user commented, “I don’t remember the expectations of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook… all of them other apps—when they first started. I don’t remember the expectations being that high. But for some reason, when Fanbase starts, expectations are through the roof.”
One TikTok user shared with his audience that TikTok banned him for seven days for reasons beyond his knowledge. He stumbled upon Fanbase with the mindset that there will always be a silver lining to situations like his.
