Tiktok is back, but I won't be

what a fcking stunt that was.

Barely even a solid 24 hours from the official ban and Tiktok is already open, up and running again and thanking Trump who isn’t even inaugurated yet. In 2020, the height of BLM protests and what we thought was a mass social awakening, Trump himself pushed the idea for the app to be banned in fears international corruption and “misinformation” which in code is people are learning truth that affect the wealthier ruling class. Yet, some how he’s a savior now. Make a problem, give the people a solution, become the hero. People with common sense know the stunt and trickery for what it is but if I’ve learned anything in these few year is common sense ain’t that damn common. Still, the North remembers.

In the last days before the “Tiktok Ban” there were a lot of goodbyes from the people’s favorite creators, people were writing down recipes, saving hundreds of videos, on live crying, screaming, throwing up. It was a whole lot and even though I was more of a lurker than a content creator there it broke my heart. This was a third space for many people especially those who felt atrocized from their real life communities. Some even said they don’t know what they’re going to do being so lonely in quiet suburbia or isolated rural areas. That was sad af. It did show me though as fun as Tiktok is, it’s not a stable community. It feels like a digital walkable neighborhood where everyone leaves their doors unlocked and invites people in for a chat but it’s not. That’s actually the neighborhood I grew up in here in Brooklyn, New York. I was just a kid before gentrification came and pulled apart much of the community but boy, I remember the feeling. I want it back and I have enough audacity in to believe it’s still possible.

I don’t want to be reliant on something that could be snatched up and shutdown at any moment, eliminating significant connection in a blink of any eye. If anything the brief ban felt like a warning. “We can take this away from you so don’t get too ahead of yourself” and honestly, noted. I’m lucky that I still live in my walkable community. Maybe not as close-knit and bonded as years before but New York City provides the ability to reach out and connect, find events, third spaces and niche communities more than any where else. Being from here, I kind of took that for granted but this all is a revelation. I plan to utilize my privilege in being in the one of the most occupied, active cities in the world and go out and restore the community I need. Mutual-aids, community service, art shows, poetry readings, dance parties, hyper-specific park meetups. I’m attending them all, talking to people and connecting especially as the warmer months soon approach.

The city and actually the world is my oyster. I really almost forgot. Thank you to Tiktok for this ridiculous stunt for re-awakening me to just that. I won’t be back on Tiktok, at least not for a very long while. I already said my proper goodbyes. Now, I have grass to touch and a life to create.