The TikTok creator fund is a program launched by TikTok in 2020 that pays creators for making engaging videos on the platform. It is one of the ways TikTok supports and rewards its top creators, allowing them to potentially earn money directly from TikTok based on their viewership and engagement. The creator fund provides an important new avenue for creators to monetize their content and turn their TikTok passions into a career. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become a highly influential platform, especially among younger users. The creator fund incentivizes creators to produce original, high-quality content for the TikTok community. It represents TikTok’s investment in its creator ecosystem and demonstrates the platform’s commitment to empowering creators. The size of the fund, which started at $200 million in the US and has expanded globally, underscores just how valuable TikTok views its creators and their content.
TikTok’s Global Reach
TikTok has seen an enormous surge in popularity and now has a massive global userbase. According to Backlinko, as of December 2022, 23% of the world’s 5.3 billion internet users now use TikTok. That equates to over 1.2 billion TikTok users worldwide. TikTok is one of the most downloaded apps globally, with over 672 million downloads in 2022, according to Statista.
This incredible growth is a testament to TikTok’s viral content and algorithmic recommendation engine that keeps users coming back. Short-form vertical video has clearly resonated across cultures and demographics. While TikTok originated in China, it now has achieved mainstream popularity across North America, Europe, Asia and beyond. The app’s intuitive interface also contributes to its viral spread. With such tremendous reach, TikTok offers creators huge potential audiences for their content.
The TikTok Creator Fund
The TikTok Creator Fund is a program launched by TikTok in 2020 to support and reward creators on the platform. To qualify for the creator fund, creators need to meet certain eligibility requirements:
Creators must be 18 years or older and have at least 10,000 authentic followers. They must have accrued at least 10,000 video views in the last 30 days. Creators also need to consistently post original, high-quality videos that follow TikTok’s community guidelines.
If accepted into the creator fund, earnings are calculated based on the number of video views and level of engagement on each video. According to TikTok, the minimum payout is $100 per month. Funds are distributed on a monthly basis directly to creators via Stripe or PayPal.
To get started with the TikTok Creator Fund, eligible creators can apply through the TikTok app by tapping the profile icon, selecting “Creator tools” and then “TikTok Creator Fund.” Creators have to agree to TikTok’s terms of service before being accepted.
Current Countries with the Fund
As of early 2023, the TikTok Creator Fund is currently available in the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Italy
- France
- Spain
As stated on TikTok’s Creator Portal, the fund is currently limited to creators in these six countries. However, there are ongoing calls for TikTok to expand the fund to more regions and countries where TikTok has a substantial user base.
According to TikTok’s press release in March 2021, the company officially launched the fund in the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain to support creators in Europe. The fund had previously launched in July 2020 in the United States.
To qualify for the fund, creators must meet certain baseline requirements, including being based in one of the eligible countries, being at least 18 years old, having a minimum of 10,000 followers, and having at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. Meeting the thresholds does not guarantee access to the fund, as TikTok also evaluates factors like content quality and audience engagement when approving creators.
While the Creator Fund currently covers fewer than 10 countries, it demonstrates TikTok’s efforts to directly reward and incentivize top talent on its platform. With the fund’s expansion into multiple European markets in 2021, there is potential for broader availability in the future as TikTok continues to grow globally.
Sweden’s Influencer Marketing Scene
Sweden has seen a meteoric rise in influencer marketing over the past few years. According to Statista, 70 percent of business-to-consumer companies and 20 percent of business-to-business companies in Sweden utilized influencer marketing in 2022 and 2023. The country is home to over 4,000 influencers on Instagram alone. Macro-influencers with 100,000 to 1 million followers are increasingly common, and there are even some mega-influencers with over 1 million followers.
Swedish brands have eagerly embraced influencer marketing as well. Everything from global companies like IKEA and H&M to smaller local brands leverage influencers for promotions and campaigns. Industries like fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and food have seen particularly strong influencer growth. The typical Swedish influencer creates sponsored content for multiple brands across various campaigns.
Influencer marketing spend in Sweden was estimated at over $150 million in 2021 according to Statista. Spend is projected to reach $225 million by 2028 as the industry continues expanding. Sweden’s relatively small population of 10 million means it has one of the highest per-capita spends on influencer marketing globally.
TikTok Usage in Sweden
According to recent statistics, TikTok has seen significant adoption and usage in Sweden. As of January 2023, there are an estimated 3.2 million TikTok users in Sweden (https://oosga.com/social-media/swe/). This represents around 31% of the total population. The growth rate of TikTok users is around 1.07% per month. In February 2022, a Statista survey found that 12% of respondents in Sweden reported using TikTok daily or almost daily (https://www.statista.com/topics/11655/social-media-usage-in-sweden/).
TikTok has seen rapid adoption among internet users in Sweden, especially among younger demographics. As the app continues to grow globally, usage in Sweden is likely to increase further. The creative and entertainment focused features of TikTok have resonated with Swedish audiences.
Calls for Expanding the Fund
There have been increasing calls from Swedish creators for TikTok to expand the Creator Fund to their country. As noted in a Reddit post, some creators in Sweden are seeing rapid growth but are unable to tap into the monetization offered by the Fund [1]. Many Swedish TikTokers feel it’s unfair they don’t have the same opportunities to earn money from their content as creators in other countries.
With over 1 million users in Sweden, there is clearly an engaged TikTok audience and burgeoning creator community there. Swedish creators point out it makes little sense to exclude them from the Fund when comparable European countries like Germany, France, and Italy are included. There are calls across Swedish social media for TikTok to be more inclusive and expand the Creator Fund globally.
Likelihood of Expanding to Sweden
Based on TikTok’s current expansion plans, there is a moderate chance the TikTok Creator Fund will launch in Sweden in the near future. According to TikTok’s announcement, the fund started in Europe with the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain in March 2021. This indicates TikTok is methodically rolling out the fund region by region.
Sweden was not included in the initial European launch, but it’s a sizable market with high social media usage. As users have speculated on Reddit, Sweden seems like a logical next step for expanding the fund. However, TikTok has not provided a definitive roadmap for launching in additional countries. The timeline likely depends on how quickly they can scale the fund’s operations and administrative processes to new markets.
In summary, while Sweden does not currently have access to the TikTok Creator Fund, there are promising signs it could expand there within the next 1-2 years, especially if Swedish creators voice demand for the program.
Opportunities for Swedish Creators
While the TikTok Creator Fund is not yet available in Sweden, there are still opportunities for Swedish creators to monetize their content and brand in the meantime. Some options include:
Partnering with brands for sponsored content. Brands looking to reach TikTok’s young demographic may collaborate directly with creators in Sweden. Creators can earn money by featuring brands or products in their videos.
Affiliate marketing through links in bios and posts. Creators can earn commissions by driving traffic to partner brands through affiliate links.
Selling merchandise like custom apparel. Engaged follower bases can become loyal customers that purchase creator-designed products.
TikTok LIVE gifts. Fans can purchase virtual gifts to show appreciation during livestreams, generating income for creators.
Growing followers and views in preparation. Swedish creators can continue optimizing content and building their audience, so they’re ready when monetization expands.
While the options may be more limited initially, Swedish creators can still build their brand and monetize through creativity and audience connection in the lead up to an official TikTok Creator Fund launch.
Conclusion
In summary, while Sweden currently does not have access to TikTok’s Creator Fund, the country does have an active influencer marketing scene with a sizable TikTok userbase. As TikTok continues expanding the Fund globally, Sweden seems likely to gain access in the future given its social media usage and interest in creator content. Swedish creators have opportunities to build their brands and some are finding alternative ways to monetize without relying solely on TikTok’s Fund. The key takeaway is that while Sweden is not yet supported, it may only be a matter of time until TikTok brings its monetization tools to the Swedish market.
