Some creators will suggest followers find them on "fbook," for example, rather than writing out Facebook. Others will bleep out just enough words to get the message to their followers while hoping to avoid TikTok's detection, Nolan said. Some creators are teaming up with brands to incentivize users by holding prize giveaways for users who follow them on other apps, she added.

"They're obviously not saying, 'Come over to Instagram,'" Nolan said. "They're like, 'Go follow me on' and they're mouthing it."

After working on a horse farm, Nealie Boschma, 27, was able to move to Los Angeles and live full-time as a creator after starting to post videos to TikTok in 2022.