The Great TikTok Ban of 2025
I’m not sure who the great TikTok Ban of 2025 impacted, but I just wanted to provide an opportunity for you to “mark safe.”
I’m sorry if I dug up a day-old wound. As people scrambled for a short time to fill the void TikTok’s disappearance created, I wondered to myself, “What does this mean?” I’m not saying everyone who was sad to see TikTok go for that short moment has an addiction, but it was an eye-opener to see how many of us use apps like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to entertain us. Many of us have grown dependent on scrolling to help us find a boost of joy or relief.
For whatever reason, I found the thought of not having TikTok around quite refreshing. I liked the idea of losing one more thing that begs for my attention and distracts me from what I desire most. To be fair, Taylor and I have come to enjoy showing each other our TikTok’s as we wind down from time to time (it often ends in tear-filled laughter), but I don’t like the way I find myself filling the margin in my life with scrolling.
Over the last year or so, I have been challenged to consume less and create more. I’m grateful for platforms like TikTok and Instagram that allow ordinary people to share their ideas, passions, and dreams with the world. I just don’t want the tool to become a trap in my life.
I end this mini-rant by asking a few questions:
Is your relationship with social media healthy? Take a moment to reflect: Does it add value to your life, or does it drain it?
How did you feel during the TikTok pause? Did your reaction surprise you? Did you turn to something else to fill the gap? Was it productive or not?
What’s one way you can connect with a close friend this week—without relying on social media?
I don’t ask these questions to point fingers but to start a conversation, first within yourself and then with others.
Let’s use moments like these to pause and consider how we want to spend our time and attention. Sometimes, less noise leads to more clarity.