TikTok has caused its 170 million users in the United States to undergo a rollercoaster of emotions this past week. Within a few days, users across the nation have experienced the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. As TikTok began to reach what everyone believed to be its end, users across the TikTok platform began to post an abundance of videos. In an attempt to prepare for the tragedy that was to come, many users also rushed to preserve funny, entertaining videos that they had saved, drafted, or reposted on TikTok to their camera roll. From small creators to celebrities, people posted videos including goodbye messages, old drafts, revealing secrets, or even bringing back classic TikTok trends for one last hoorah.
Even though TikTok was near its supposed “death” in the U.S., its last days and hours were spent displaying the countless memories and entertainment it has brought throughout the years. TikTok users were taken back to the OG days of TikTok in which your “For You” page included videos of the Hype House, the renegade, and Charli D’Amelio. Old drafts from this 2016-2020 era were posted by numerous famous TikTok creators, Charli D’Amelio included in the list. D’Amelio posted approximately 20 videos from her drafts, and one video revealing the truth behind a rumor that had once taken over the media. There was even a specific sound that influencers had shared between these jaw-dropping posts. Several other TikTok influencers similarly revealed a secret they had kept throughout the years. A new light was shown on those that have been idolized. For example, some even revealed their numerous exercise and “clean girl aesthetic” posts were fake. Saying that they only partially did the workouts, or never actually lived the life they had projected.
Sienna Mae, a previous member of the Hype House, who has experienced the TikTok “fame,revealed a truth much more serious than the rest. She touched on the controversies and rumors about her breakup with Jack Wright, that occurred back in 2021. She had stayed quiet the past years, trying to avoid all the rumors and false accusations, but she decided to finally speak her side of the story. Mae wanted to end the drama once and for all before TikTok disappeared for what everyone thought was good. She posted this video on her YouTube channel and simply spread word of it on TikTok.
Avani Gregg, Noah Beck, Loren Gray, Bryce Hall, Lil Huddy, and many more familiar faces also partook in posting old gems that had been in their TikTok drafts. The main portion of the old videos posted revolved around people from the old, but never forgotten, Hype House. Additionally, even small creators and profiles started to participate in posting their own memorable drafts. These videos brought so much nostalgia back to users, and were posted in an attempt for users to “go out the way they came in.”
Not only this, but people got to relive the classic TikTok trends, sounds/audios, and dances for one last time. Dances like the “renegade,” “savage,” and “woah” were brought back for this short time. Additionally, a few people recreated similar videos as such that would have been seen on Musically; now this was a real throwback! People used popular songs from the Musically era, and even through some iconic hand motions. This group of users decided to continue having fun with TikTok while it was still available. They wanted to enjoy it while it lasted, so to speak.
Others approached this event on more of a sad note. TikTok can be more than just a source of entertainment. For example, the many influencers that use TikTok and rely on it for a source of income. Besides this, famous influencers were also just sincerely sad about the idea of TikTok being banned. A lot of people have relied on this app as a support system and made many lifelong friends because of TikTok. Losing TikTok and the family of users on it, makes many people emotional and feel like they are losing something deeply rooted in them. Because of this, people addressed the banishment by posting videos informing viewers how to find them on other platforms, expressing their goodbyes and appreciation, and mourning the loss of TikTok.
During the brief, but agonizing 12-hour ban of TikTok, many users tested out other platforms as a replacement. One of the most commonly used was Instagram Reels. Although it seems to have similar qualities, in my opinion, Instagram reels aren’t even comparable to TikTok. Sure, it’s tolerable but far less entertaining. Many opened TikTok out of pure muscle memory, and were left disappointed. Outraged, more than a few deleted the app thinking it was going to be banned indefinitely. Those who had deleted TikTok now had no way of redownloading it due to it being removed from the app store. When the nation awoke to TikTok being restored, the app seemed to be back to its splendid self, with just a little bit of blurry quality. TikTok came with an entertaining surprise gifted by James Charles. Charles seemed to have found a loophole to the ban, as his TikTok continued to work after everyone else’s shut down. He made this known by posting a video in which he was under a blanket whispering about his hack and possession of TikTok. This video was shocking, yet very entertaining to reopen TikTok to.
Since it was only gone for a short period of time, it feels as though the nation has been pranked. Some of the famous influencers who posted old drafts continue to keep them posted, having yet to delete any. Some are left in embarrassment, as their revealing posts were all for nothing. Now millions know what was once a secret, all just because of this banishment scare. Everyone is celebrating the return of TikTok and praying that it is back for good this time.
