What if No One Misses TikTok?

I have never actively engaged with TikTok by adding friends, sending direct messages, or identifying as a “TikToker.” This sentiment is shared by many in my circle, where TikTok is not seen as a platform for social connection but rather as a place to pass time, disconnect from reality, and scroll endlessly through the feed. While this passive and dissociative experience may boost user engagement, it also makes TikTok feel easily replaceable compared to more interactive social networks. If TikTok were to disappear, users would simply seek similar content elsewhere.

The explanation provided by Hana Kiros in The Atlantic suggests that TikTok’s own success has led to its downfall. As other social media platforms adopt TikTok’s features, users can now find similar short, entertaining videos on Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and other apps. In a saturated market where every platform offers TikTok-style content, TikTok itself may lose its uniqueness and appeal.

On a more optimistic note, perhaps society is ready for a change. Spending time on TikTok often involves surrendering control to the algorithm and allowing ByteDance to entertain us. While this can be enjoyable and even euphoric, prolonged exposure to TikTok has been observed to alter cognitive functions, reduce attention span, and increase dependence on tailored content for dopamine release. Some users have even described TikTok as a harmful addiction that they cannot quit without external intervention.

While it may be idealistic to believe that a ban on TikTok would prompt users to engage in more intellectual or outdoorsy pursuits, it is worth considering if we are ready to redirect our attention to other activities after years of focusing on this app. Perhaps the nonchalant response to TikTok’s potential disappearance indicates a collective readiness to invest our time and energy elsewhere.