TikTok has returned… but I’m not sure I will

Oh, the drama.

I’ve previously written about my joyful experience on TikTok, and why losing the platform would be painful. I’ve spent the last three years building my community there. I preferred it to every other social media platform. My engagement was superior to anything Meta offered, where maybe 5 people out of a 100 followers actually saw my posts. 

I was not one of the many who made money there. But many of the 1.7 million users do rely on TikTok as a significant source of income.

We’d been hearing about a potential ban for years–first touted by the Trump Presidency, and then again in various forms. Each time when the ban seemed imminent, we got a reprieve, so despite my best intentions of saving my data and following people on other sites, it didn’t seem that urgent.

Until the last couple of months, when the ban got approved by Congress and signed by President Biden into law because it was tucked into a Must-Approve aid package to the Ukraine. Many that voted for it waffled around the notion it would actually take place.

Then in the run-up to implementation of the law the news changed so fast and so often, it could give you whiplash. Yes, the ban will go through Jan 19, 2025. No the app won’t disappear from your phone. Yes, the app will stop working slowly over time. Wait, Senator Markey is trying to get a stay! Oh no, Senator Cotton refused to cooperate. We’ll have to see what SCOTUS says. SCOTUS won’t give an answer before the inauguration. WAIT. They changed their mind and announced their decision: the ban is ON. The app will go DARK Jan 19. No, wait, Biden approved a 36 hour extension! But hang on, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says that’s not good enough, and US offices–and services–will shut down. There was a lot of talk about Biden not wanting to invoke the 90 day extension because that could only be invoked once, and he wanted to leave Trump some options.

And so starting the evening of Jan 18, my TT service became wonky, and by Sunday morning, Jan 19, I had a notice saying services were closed but they hoped to be back soon. For four hours, the site was dark and many mourned.

And then, within a few hours of Trump posting about possible conditions to save for the app, it was back with a statement thanking Trump for working with them. It was very… deferential.

Apparently, Facebook has an official TikTok account now as well. Only they aren’t calling it Meta, so is it real? Word has it that not only did Shou Zi Chew attended the inauguration, but his bio no longer includes “TikTok CEO”. Other people said Chew has meetings lined up with Zuckerberg (and possibly Musk) this week. And people are saying their FYP and search options are different now. It’s hard to know what to believe, but TikTok’s own subservient statement makes the rumors seem true.

The reality of it is that aside from Bluesky (you’ll find me here), every other major platform in the US is controlled by right-wing interests now. Let that sink in a moment.

I have to say, I’m exhausted by all the song and dance. I’m disturbed by the implications of what’s happened here. It feels a lot like the uproar that occurred when New Coke was introduced, and everyone hated it so much they demanded a return to the original. I never believed the original tasted quite right after that, and I have a sneaking suspicion this formula was also changed but because New Coke was so bad, we happily accepted the return to “Coca-Cola Classic.” 

All this is to say, I’m not sure I’ll be going back to TikTok. I might pop on and download my data (I tried before but so many people tried to do the same I never could get through). I might wave at some friends and comment on their posts. But I’m not sure I’m going to devote so much time and energy to any one social media platform–or all social media platforms–again.

I’m checking out other alternatives. Bluesky is talking about creating a TikTok alternative using the decentralized format and censorship resistance associated with their platform that has become the Twitter replacement for many. TheNeptuneApp is a women-owned company seeking to create a TikTok-like platform that will allow monetization like TikTok. Tome Books is a bookish app created to be a place for fans of ACOTAR-type fantasy novels, but may be open to other genres. (I couldn’t find a link that didn’t direct to Instagram, so not sharing) Pixelfed is supposed to be the way Instagram was before Meta took it over.

Meta ceased to be useful to me as a platform unless I throw money at it. I left Twitter when you had to pay to be blue-check verified.

Yes, as creators, we need to be where our audiences are. But I also need to follow my conscience. However, I am also heartily tired of jumping through all the algorithm hoops. My advice to new authors has always been pick one or two platforms you enjoy being on and let the rest go. As I move away from forcing the writing to be a second source of income or a viable retirement plan, maybe the answer for me is to severely cut back my media time altogether.

Besides, with less time on social media, I might actually get more writing done.

 

2 thoughts on “TikTok has returned… but I’m not sure I will

  1. Hi, friend. Boy, do I hear you! As you know, I’ve bounced back and forth, in and out of Tiktok for a while now, so much that my bouncer is sore. But after this latest fiasco, I won’t go back on principle. Ever. TikTok will now become Trumptok, and I will not endorse anything that man touches. It’s a matter of integrity. While I’m in Canada, I’m still not playin’… Instagram is only something I use to private message with family members (I don’t post there) and Facebook? NO WAY. META is evil. So, it’s BlueSkies for me as well. I’m so happy to have found you over there. It Feels like an authentic, genuine space. Take care, and hang in there down there!

    • TikTok will now become Trumptok, and I will not endorse anything that man touches

      That’s how I feel. The joy has completely gone out of that site for me. I don’t know that I have the energy to start over again, either. The real me isn’t nearly as fun as the TikTok me! šŸ˜‰

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