Welcome to Created, the newsletter that the government would never ban (ahem, TikTok). Here’s what we got today:
- MrBeast in talks to buy TikTok
- Dude Perfect’s $5M HQ and their vision to expand the brand
- Outlier of the week
MrBeast In Talks To Buy TikTok
With TikTok’s fate in the U.S. hanging by a thread, a new name has entered the conversation: MrBeast.
The world’s biggest YouTuber tweeted his interest in buying TikTok. Later following up saying “many billionaires” reached out to help pull off the purchase.
But can MrBeast save TikTok? Or any other buyers for that matter?
Bigger Picture
In a few days, on January 19, TikTok will be banned in the U.S. unless the Supreme Court steps in or a sale is made.
If neither happens, TikTok’s US servers will “go dark.” That means even global users (or users with a VPN) may not access or see U.S. accounts.
Potential Buyers
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has said it won’t sell. But with pressure mounting, some big names have expressed interest, including:
- MrBeast: He says he’s exploring the idea with billionaire backers.
- Rumble: The alt-tech video platform made an offer in March 2024.
- Frank McCourt: The billionaire ex-Dodgers owner made a $20 billion verbal commitment to buy TikTok.
- Elon Musk: While rumors swirled, ByteDance dismissed the idea as “pure fiction.”
Even if ByteDance decides to sell, China has implied it won’t allow TikTok’s algorithm —the secret sauce of the app’s success — to leave its borders.
What Happens If TikTok is Banned?
- No Downloads: TikTok will disappear from app stores.
- No Updates: Existing users won’t receive security patches, leaving the app vulnerable, buggier and, eventually, unusable.
- Shutdown: ByteDance plans to disable U.S. servers, effectively killing TikTok for everyone.
The Real Winners
TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users will look for alternatives, and platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and Snapchat are poised to benefit.
YouTube is in the process of extending Shorts length to three minutes.
Other Chinese-owned platforms, such as Xiaohongshu — known as RedNote among its U.S. users — have seen rapid growth in the U.S. and the UK.
Congress and Trump Weigh In
Amid the chaos, some lawmakers are pushing to delay the ban. A bipartisan bill led by Senator Markey seeks to extend the deadline by 270 days, arguing the ban was rushed.
President-elect Trump, meanwhile, asked the Supreme Court to pause the ban until he’s in office, where he says he can broker a “political resolution.”
Our take
If you have an audience on TikTok…oh boy. The best time to ask them to follow you on other platforms was like a year ago.
The second best time is now.
But here’s the kicker: don’t ask them to follow you everywhere like so many creators are doing right now.
Pick one platform you’ve built a following like YouTube, Instagram, or your newsletter. Make at least three posts with a clear CTA to it.
Then, pray someone buys the app. But plan like nobody will.
Dude Perfect Unveils New $5 Million Studio
With a new $5M headquarters and CEO, Andrew Yaffe, Dude Perfect is laying the foundation for a legacy that extends far beyond its original five members.
I toured their studio with the dudes and interviewed Yaffe to learn more.
Their new space includes:
- Basketball court with moving hoops
- Football field, putting green, and pickle ball court
- $20,000 Race Simulator
- Office space to fit 50 employees
“There was way more thought that went into this space than there was before,” Cory Cotton explained.
For example, the taller ceilings are better for filming high-flying trick-shots.
Developing New Talent
A key focus of Yaffe’s strategy to expand Dude Perfect is talent development.
“There are a lot of people out there who can live by [Dude Perfect’s] ethos and create content that families love.” he said.
Kevin “Sparky” Sparkman is proof. After Cotton, one of the original five dudes, was sidelined by surgery, Sparky stepped in and has become a fan favorite.
“It’s just an amazing job by him and the whole company to bring him along in a way that now feels so natural,” Yaffe said.
Wait, what happened to their $100M Theme Park?
Don’t worry, I asked about that too.
Dude Perfect World, a theme park that turns their trick shots into attractions, is still in development.
But this new HQ has gotten their fanbase excited and curious all over again.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
- Color contrast + dramatic expression stops your scroll (Will Tennyson)
- Face buried in Amazon boxes creates intrigue (Danny Gonzalez)
- Deconstructed piano with exposed keys stops scroll (The Piano Doctor)
- $1M vs $100 Star Wars contrasts high & low VFX budgets (ErikDoesVFX)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by Václav Volhejn has 1M views, which is 0 times higher than the channel’s average because…it was actually his first upload. Here’s why it took off:
- Viral Surprise: After 9 months of quiet, this video blew up thanks to an unrelated viral short, proving the true power in shorts is discoverability.
- Innovative Idea: The video introduces a unique map that reshapes based on travel time, not distance, offering a new way to see the world.
- Try It Yourself: Volhejn published the jelly-like, interactive visuals online to make this sci-fi concept fun and accessible for everyone.
Sponsored by Spotter
Spotter Studio Wants To Pay You
Spotter Studio has changed how I design thumbnails, brainstorm ideas, and find outliers.
Now, Spotter Studio wants to pay you for using and sharing their tools. With their referral program, you can earn up to $500 in referral rewards annually just by sharing Spotter Studio with friends.
It’s simple to get started:
- Send your personal referral link to a friend.
- When your friend redeems their free trial, you both get a $100 account credit.
- Keep sharing to earn up to $500 in credits per year.
If you’re ready to create smarter and earn rewards while doing it, sign up and start sharing here.
💰 Job Board
- Beta Squad is hiring a video editor
- Kumaar Family is hiring a creative operations manager
- The Trading Geek is hiring a video editor
🏆 The Created Referral Program
Know someone who’d also love this newsletter? Refer them and get gifts.
Refer 1 friend: you’ll get my Infinite Ideas book. It’s my 8 best tips to find viral ideas for your next upload.
Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
Copy this unique link and email, text, or post it: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE]
👋 See You Inside
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– Jon
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