Goodbyes are always hard. Parting ways can be challenging. Saying so long is never painless, but what happens when it is a beloved app? One that’s been the start of countless conversations, shared many laughs, and created unforgettable memories? How do you say goodbye to something that’s been woven into your daily life?
“People communicate and interact a lot with each other through TikTok, it keeps everybody sane,” said sophomore Lilly Madibo. “I’ll miss laying in bed for hours watching it.”
While scrolling through your phone all day and night, watching TikTok might not be the healthiest thing possible to do: it was the norm. If you’re bored, you go to TikTok; want to send your friends a funny video, check in on your favorite influencers, or even learn something new, Tik Tok was the place to go.
“I gained my personality from TikTok, unfortunately,” said Madibo. “I’m going to be sad when it’s gone.”
TikTok is like a second Google for this generation. Many things could be learned through TikTok such as finding new cooking recipes, learning how to stay more organized, maybe if you need help with school work you can find a video explaining how to do a math problem. TikTok is a great way to learn new things.
“It’s not just for entertainment for me, I do watch a lot of videos of people painting which helps me get better at my art,” Social Studies and Economics teacher Lauren Foster said, “Even stupid things like tricks and tips on cleaning your house. I’ve learned alot from TikTok.”
The “Favorites” collection is a way for users to save videos they enjoy or want to come back to later. People add videos to their collections for all kinds of reasons, some save funny memes they want to watch again, life hacks or recipes they want to try, others might collect edits of celebrities or actors.
“I like and repost a lot of edits, my “For You” is full of them.” says senior Emma Yando. “If Tik Tok is getting banned, Cap Cut is getting banned too which is where most editors make their videos.”
Many users even organize their favorites into categories, like music, self-care tips, memes, and sometimes even study hacks or ways to stay on top of schoolwork. It’s kind of like having a personal playlist but for videos, making it easier to find the content you enjoy or want to share with friends. It also gives you a way to keep track of the content you find inspiring or entertaining without cluttering your main feed.
“I have like 30 collections. I have one about food, nails, God, hair, I have a lot, it.” says Madibo. “It keeps me sane because let’s say I’m hungry, I like watching mukbangs, so if I get hungry I can just go look at my food collection.”
While people often learn a lot on TikTok they also laugh a lot as well. Your “For You” page curated perfectly by your very own “chinese spy” almost always gives you a reason to laugh, and with new trends coming out all the time there’s never a dull moment.
“One of my favorite TikTok trends recently was the orange muppet character.” Sophomore Evagelia Stathos said. “Every single one made me laugh.”
While TikTok always brings laughs, it isn’t only that. influencers posting intriguing content, actors posting behind the scenes acts with their co-stars, cute couple trends that bring smiles, and photo dumps that give us a glimpse into other people’s lives. TikTok was always a source of fascination.
“I think it’s a good way for me to disassociate.” said Foster. “Sometimes when I don’t want to think about my own reality, I like to watch other people.”
Reposting is another way people show what they’re into and make people laugh, whether it’s a video that reflects how they’re feeling or something they want to share with their friends. When you repost something, it’s like saying, “This is me,” or, “I agree with this,” and it helps others see what you’re thinking or what’s important to you. It’s also a way to learn what’s going on in other people’s minds, because when people repost things, they’re giving a little peek into what’s going on inside their head, what they find interesting, or what they care about.
“I love to repost. ” freshman Cimaya Gore said. “I like to know what people find funny or how they are feeling. It’s like an inside to their lives.”
Some think banning TikTok could actually be a good thing for people, especially our younger generation. So many of us spend hours scrolling through videos, which can make us feel disconnected from the people around us, and take away from real life interactions.
Without TikTok, maybe we will spend more time talking face-to-face, hanging out with friends, or getting more involved in physical activities, such as sports or working out . Plus, it could help reduce screen time overall, which is something most of us probably need. We all know how easy it is to get sucked into the app and lose track of time, and that can mess with our sleep, grades, and our mental health. Taking a break from it might actually make us more present, productive, and focused on things that matter outside the app.
If TikTok does end up getting banned, it’s going to affect a lot of people, especially teens. For teens, it’s more than just an app, it’s a way to connect, share laughs, and stay updated on what’s going on in the world. It’s become a huge part of how we communicate and express ourselves. Without it, a lot of people will feel disconnected, especially since so many friendships and communities have been built around the app. Teens will miss out on the fun trends and challenges that shape our culture right now. Plus, it’s a space where we can feel creative and showcase our personalities. While some people might argue it’s better for mental health to have less screen time, people loved it, and it’s honestly hard to imagine what the social scene would look like without it. The thought of TikTok disappearing feels like losing a piece of our everyday routine. It’s not just about scrolling through videos anymore, it’s about having a platform where we can express ourselves and see what everyone else is thinking, all in one place. Without TikTok, it’s like part of our social world is being ripped away. It feels like we’re losing a piece of how we relate to each other, and that’s going to be a big change.
“I think it’s a good way for me to disassociate.” said Foster. “Sometimes when I don’t want to think about my own reality, I like to watch other people.”
However, TikTok faces growing government pressure and legal challenges. On his first day back in office, Donald Trump issued an executive order that expanded the ban of Tik Tok. The order granted a 75 day extension, which Trump said will give him the time to consult with his advisors and other relevant people to address the national security threat posed by Tik Tok. If the app does end up getting banned, it would mean that while users who already have the app installed will still be able to access it, they will no longer be able to download updates or new versions. Over time, this could lead to many functionality issues, as the app may “bug out” or experience technical problems due to the lack of updates and support. This development adds uncertainty to the future of Tik Tok, especially given its massive cultural and social influence.
“I feel like it definitely is impetting on freedom of speech.” Foster said. “I know there’s a lot of different reasons for the ban, so maybe it is for the best, but I’m personally going to miss it alot.”
