U.S. TikTokers are preparing for a ban by promoting their YouTube and Instagram channels

In the wake of a U.S. Appeals Court decision that denied TikTok‘s appeal to the First Amendment, some creators are preparing for a big change that could take effect in January. That’s when the U.S. government could begin enforcing a law that forces either a domestic ban or a divestiture of TikTok (unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes before then).

If the divest-or-ban law reaches its “ban” endgame, U.S.-based TikTokers risk being left in the lurch if they fail to diversify their followings across multiple platforms. That’s always been good advice in the creator world, but it is especially pertinent in an era when one of the world’s biggest social media hubs faces an existential threat in a market where it counts more than 150 million users.

To respond to that threat, some creators are telling their TikTok followers to find them on U.S.-based platforms like YouTube and Instagram, which will still be live for Americans even if the TikTok ban goes into effect. “For the first time I’m realizing that a lot of what I worked for could disappear,” TikToker Chris Mowrey told Reuters. “I don’t think it’s been talked about enough how damaging it will be from an economic standpoint for small businesses and creators.” Added lifestyle creator Chris Burkett: “I don’t think there’s longevity on this app in the United States.”

Though creators like Mowrey and Burkett are wise to hedge against the possibility of a U.S. TikTok ban, shepherding followers to YouTube and Instagram might be a tad premature. TikTok has already asked for an injunction

that would delay the enforcement of the law and give the Supreme Court time to consider it. If that motion is granted, TikTok will be able to rely on its ties to the Trump Administration (which reportedly wants to keep TikTok around) to jeopardize the divest-or-ban statute.

Because of possibilities like that, some TikTok-based creators are not panicking just yet. Per Reuters, TikTok Shop consultant Sarah Jannetti advised her clients to forgo any drastic changes “until they see something that’s more concrete.”

Even if the divest-or-ban law is ultimately upheld, TikTok parent ByteDance could still avoid a ban by going with the less extreme option: A divestiture that would allow a U.S.-based entity to take control of TikTok (or at least its American operations). Billionaire Frank McCourt and his endeavor Project Liberty are among the leading candidates, and McCourt is assembling a consortium of investors to make a run at a TikTok acquisition.

TikTok’s operation future remains blurry in the United States, but one thing has become clear: U.S. TikTok creators should not get caught by surprise if a domestic ban goes into effect next month. Some of them are already making sure that they won’t be.