"I’m a 17-Year-Old TikTok Junkie. I Need This Ban."
Plus how and why TikTok went darkish, how to maybe get a fix anyway, what might happen next, and who's vying to buy the opportunity to increase anxiety and depression in 170M Americans.
[Click for Jan 21 update on the delayed ban]
That’s a headline that might not jive with how you or the kids feel, but it’s pretty enlightening. Read it here (gifted article, no paywall). The negative effect of social medial on mental health is well documented, as is the worse effect on adolescent women.
For the story on how TikTok went dark today and what incoming president Trump may or may not do about it, click here. And here’s how to theoretically get around the ban.
Finally, the inside track to 170M US minds—50% of the entire US population—is indeed tempting. Here’s who’s interested in buying TikTok.
Personally, I loved TikTok. It was entertaining and upbeat. I learned a lot. It made me curious about things I didn’t even know to be curious about. There were people on there who were ridiculously smart and funny.
If you engaged only with creative, positive content, that’s what the algorithm fed you. It was awesome, and Meta can’t replicate it. Fb and Instagram Reels had the prototype right there - and some of the same content creators, too - and couldn’t pull it off. My opinion? TikTok was banned because Zuck and Musk couldn’t compete, and the dinosaurs in Congress believed TikTok to be a silly app for kids made by scary people who are successfully taking market share away from US companies.
I’ve deleted Meta apps from my phone; I miss engaging with friends and knowing what they’re up to, but there were so many ads, so much misinformation, so much negativity. I just don’t need that in my life. And there are other ways to stay in touch. Many of them are better. :)