Thoughts on TikTok Getting Banned and Unbanned
I’ve heard about TikTok potentially getting banned for so long that I stopped taking it seriously.
I could have sworn I heard similar news sometime last year.
That’s why, when I started hearing last week that TikTok was really going to get banned this time, I didn’t believe it.
“Yeah, sure,” I thought.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
But last weekend, there was a girl in the car with us who said, “OMG, TikTok is banned.”
“No way!” I thought.
I didn’t believe it at first.
I tried logging into the app, and it wouldn’t let me.
There was a message about how the U.S. government had banned it but that TikTok might come back in the future, depending on new rules or the next administration.
I was stunned.
I just sat there, thinking about how my relationship with TikTok had changed over the years.
Why I Used to Hate TikTok
I used to hate TikTok without ever even trying the app.
To me, TikTok was a symbol.
A symbol of a “soft generation” that chased quick trends instead of focusing on fundamentals.
A generation that was more interested in dancing for likes than creating quality content.
I bought into all the hate TikTok got.
Whenever I saw people bashing the app, I’d agree with them.
“Yes,” I’d think, “TikTok is to blame for the downfall of our generation. Screw TikTok. I can’t stand that app.”
Why My Perspective Changed
My perspective on TikTok changed when I bought a house.
Suddenly, I had to buy and fix so many random things I’d never dealt with before.
The problem with searching on YouTube was that I’d get tons of promotional content from big companies, which I didn’t find helpful.
But TikTok?
TikTok recommended small creators.
I came across a lady with zero frills who taught me how to connect my smart remote to my garage door.
From there, I started using TikTok for all kinds of things.
Recipes, DIY fixes, and even discovering documentaries.
I didn’t just think TikTok was okay.
I grew to love the platform.
Eventually, I even started posting my own content on TikTok.
I’d take clips from my YouTube videos and post snippets.
I really liked the app.
When TikTok Got Banned
When TikTok was banned, I saw it from so many angles.
My first thought was selfish:
“What am I going to scroll through after a long day of work?”
I tried Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, but they weren’t the same.
It felt like buying knockoff sneakers.
They look similar but don’t feel right.
Then I started thinking about the creators who relied on TikTok.
“What does this mean for people who use the app as their full-time job?”
It’s easy to think of TikTok as just dancing videos, but there are so many creators…
Blue-collar workers sharing their day, stay-at-home parents sharing recipes, or inspectors showing what to expect during a home inspection.
These people made real money on the app, and now their income was gone.
When TikTok Came Back
Even though the app was banned, I didn’t delete it from my phone.
Something told me to keep it there.
Then one day, I checked TikTok, and there was a message saying it had been reinstated.
“No way!” I broke the news to everyone in the car.
The girl who had told me TikTok was banned was there when I told her it was back.
It felt so good.
I could finally scroll in peace again.
Final Thoughts
I know this might sound dramatic, but TikTok has become one of my favorite apps.
From watching basketball highlights to learning DIY fixes to discovering new workout routines, it’s been a game-changer.
If you’re a TikTok hater like I used to be, I encourage you to try the app with a purpose.
Use it as a search engine.
If you still hate it after two weeks, then delete it and complain about it on Twitter all you want.
But if you haven’t tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing.
If you use it the right way, TikTok can help you become richer, fitter, and even more social.
Yes, I said it…more social.
After the recent ban, I’ve grown to appreciate TikTok even more.
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