On Jan. 19, the TikTok ban was set in motion. Many social media-addicted teenagers (including myself) had been dreading and awaiting the day that TikTok would disappear. After a long and seemingly-endless debate, the Supreme Court ultimately landed on the conclusion that the platform would be banned on this day.
Unexpectedly, while everyone was in the midst of saying their final goodbyes, the app made its exit a few hours prior than expected. At approximately 7 p.m., when the app “went dark,” the user received a notification instructing them to exit the beloved app.
Many teens were astounded, as we were promised five more hours. But alas, the app made a comeback not even eight hours later. However, while pre-existing users may access the app, it is no longer available in app stores in the US.
For those few hours when users could no longer use TikTok, our brothers and sisters looked upon a variety of different ways to cope with their loss:
Friar Nathan Melendez ’26 stated, “I listened to The Weeknd. I stayed in my room, and just really took in how angelic he (and his voice) is. I didn’t even know the app had been banned.”
Diana Penaloza ’26 described, “I deleted the app when it got banned, then when it came back I was so upset.”
Savannah Minton ‘26 answered, “I kept opening TikTok like it was muscle memory. I went on Instagram reels, but I hate Instagram reels. It just isn’t the same.”
Victoria Roura ‘25 said, “During those eight hours when it was banned, I had to scroll through RedNote and watch all the videos from TikTok refugees. I had no choice but to connect with the Chinese on TikTok 2.0.” For context, RedNote is another app similar to TikTok’s structure; you could consider it a “dupe,” only everything is in Mandarin. So, I’m sure you could imagine how it was for American teenagers trying to maneuver through the foreign app.
Sophomore Reese Rubly never downloaded TikTok but gave her perspective on the ban: “I don’t have the app, but it really upset people when it was banned. I’m glad it didn’t last long.”
Sofia Prieto ’27 replied, “It felt unreal. I kept refreshing and opening the app over and over again. It wouldn’t click in my mind that it was banned, so I just kept opening it. I saw other people who were saying they went to RedNote after it was banned, so I did too, but it just wasn’t the same.”
Junior Julia Morales responded, “I was just bored. I was glad we got the app back quick, but then I broke my phone, so now I can’t download it again.”
Friar Emmanuel Santiago ’25 commented, “TikTok was a fun platform where everyone shared fun videos and moments. After it was banned, I just sat home alone bored, trying to find a new platform to soothe my boredom.”
Sophomore Michela Nunez said she “went on Red Note. It wasn’t the same at all, but at least it was something.”
We hope everyone made the most out if their TikTok cleanse. Comment what you did during the TikTok drought!
