TikTok Ban 01/19/2025
Since my theme for the month is technology this feels especially relevant. Last night at 7:58 p.m. PST I was one of 170 million who received a message from TikTok about the United States Government TikTok ban on January 19th. The last few days had been spent by most of us scrolling good bye messages from our favorite creators and leaving messages of thanks to those who impacted our lives in ways we never expected.
The realization being that TikTok wasn’t just another app, it was a space of community some of us had not ever experienced before. The grief we feel and anxiety of how to cope with the loss is real. It would be like having all your favorite friends sent to the moon, they are all okay but you have no way to reach them anymore. Most expect us to migrate back to existing apps or just wait around for the next big thing, but that isn’t what TikTok meant to a lot of us.
I’m not a Gen Z crying over my app being banned, I am a 50 year old neurodivergent woman who could have spent the rest of her life miserable and undiagnosed but instead was enlightened about my condition because of TikTok. I learned about perimenopause/menopause symptoms and HRT from TikTok, not the women in my family or friends. I could go on and on and on about all the things I have learned on that app but what was most important to me is the connections I made and the people I met. Sure the dances and sounds were amusing and the skits amazing, looking at you Hot Cheeto Girl aka Zeil. But we found others like us, or people we found relatable, which isn’t easy for those with Autism, ADHD, etc.
I found people like Imani Barbarin, an amazing advocate who made me feel sane in this world of politics, alternative “facts” and communication madness. Accounts like @boredcrochet who shared her yarn dying skill, creativity and wisdom with us while also managing her anxiety conditions openly, supporting others who struggle from the same with her visibility on the platform. Nani Reno, an activist who uses clever humor to address serious issues impacting Civil Rights. I discovered I love ASMR, my favorite ASMRtist Meyo and her cat Meep who live in Thailand. I subscribed to support her as TikTok is how she earns a living, much like 7 million small business in America. I found friends and comrades in arms all over the country, shit, worldwide and I am just supposed to be okay with losing all that because the US Government is too inept and old to understand technology?
Security concerns? I call bullshit. If you listened to the Supreme Court hearing you know that. Neurodivergent people all over the country found a place for the first time in history, a place where they felt comfortable and thrived. Black, white, republican and democrat where the common thread, in my opinion, was neurodivergence. People who are, those who study it or live with someone who is. Can you imagine the impact of that loss for so many who struggle to make connections with others to suddenly have that ripped away with no recourse? Look at that poor soul in Wisconsin who tried to set fire to a building owned by his Senator for banning TikTok (thanks to Aaron Paras for that breaking news). Let alone those who were able to leave their 9-5 and earn an actual living because of the app with their livelihoods in the balance.
And just like that, TikTok came back online at 10;58 a.m.PST today, exactly 14 hrs. after going dark with a message of praise for Donald Trump making promises to keep the app despite being the one initiated the ban years earlier. TikTok’s CEO had earlier praised the incoming President in an attempt to save his app even after being told the company would face no penalties for keeping the app available past the January 19, 2025 deadline for the incoming president to ultimately decide post-inauguration. Now, even though the ban was voted through both the House and the Senate, signed by Biden and finally upheld by the Supreme Court with no public facing proof of foul deed or intent the day before Donald J. Trump is inaugurated TikTok magically reappears?
Many recognize this for the political stunt it is having Trump mentioned by name in both communications TikTok sent to their users. Some say the old TikTok is dead and they will not return, others were borderline manic upon the return of their beloved app and still others are of a mind to wait and see or stay and bear witness. I remember the downfall of Twitter, I don’t need to stick around to witness much of the same. That being said the whole thing feels cruel and manipulative which ironically more people recognize because TikTok taught them about their own history and gaslighting.
We had a good run but I fear my time on TikTok has come to an end. At the present time I am unable to delete my TikTok account so when you see my account with a single post featuring Madeline Albright that is why. I will always be grateful for everything I learned from TikTok, it was a beautiful circus of knowledge and hilarity that has had a profound impact on my life. Fare thee well TikTok, thanks for the memories.
