TikTok has always been more than just an app. For its 170+ million U.S. users, it’s been a cultural phenomenon—a place for creativity, connection, and even a hub for organizing change. Whether exposing political truths, dissecting conspiracy theories, or sparking viral movements (like the General Mills protest after the infamous “let them eat cereal” campaign), TikTok has been where people turned for raw, unfiltered perspectives.
But the so-called “dark period” of TikTok, culminating in the January 19, 2025 “ban,” has left its loyal user base feeling duped. Or as many TikTokers succinctly put it: “We were played!”
Let’s walk through what happened—and why users are suspicious.
The Backstory
TikTok’s ban has been years in the making. The first calls to ban TikTok over national security concerns came from none other than Donald Trump during his presidency in 2020. At the time, TikTok was accused of mishandling user data and posing a threat to U.S. security. Yet, many users dismissed the ban as political theater.
There are even news reports of President Biden saying TikTok doesn’t have to close the app because they were not going to enforce fines and planned to leave it to the Trump administration.
See: “Biden won’t enforce TikTok Ban on his last day of Presidency”
Yet, CEO Show Zi Chew was seen meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago after which suddenly this dark period was imminent with a message on Saturday January 18, 2025:
“We regret that a U.S. law banning TikTok will take effect on January 19 and force us to make our services temporarily unavailable. We’re working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible, and we appreciate your support. Please stay tuned.”
For avid TikTokers, this felt like the end. Memes flooded the app—goodbyes to their favorite “Chinese spy,” jokes about moving to China, and shared frustration over the loss of a platform many saw as their digital home.
Many spent time with Bethany Frankel and Spencer Pratt, like a New Year’s Eve live party countdown with all the feels!
And then it went dark.
The Plot Thickens
The night TikTok went dark, it felt like a definitive goodbye or at least like it would take a few days to sort out. But to everyone’s surprise, by the next morning, TikTok had mysteriously returned. A new message greeted users:
“Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts [prior to inauguration], TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
However, things felt…off. Users immediately noticed differences in the app:
- “My FYP is different!”
- “Why am I seeing Meta ads on TikTok?”
- “I’ve been flagged twice in 24 hours. Not in the last five years have I been flagged.”
And perhaps most suspiciously: TikTok now lets users link their accounts to Facebook. For two companies that were supposedly fierce competitors, this move raised eyebrows across the TikTokverse.
The Fallout
As suspicions grew, TikTok’s users started connecting the dots:
- Donald Trump spearheaded the original ban but has now emerged as the “hero” who saved the app.
- TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, was spotted at Trump’s inauguration.
- Meta, TikTok’s once-rival, now appears to have its fingerprints on the app—with ads appearing on TikTok and a Facebook integration.
This led to an explosion of speculation:
- “This feels weird.”
- “TikTok has been compromised.”
- “Once it’s confirmed, we’re ALL leaving right?”
Many users have started fleeing TikTok altogether, seeking new platforms like Red Note and BlueSky—apps promising the uncensored, community-driven experience TikTok once offered.
Was It All Planned?
The timing, the cryptic messages, the sudden reboot with Meta integration—it’s no wonder TikTok users feel like they’ve been played. As Bethenny Frankel put it:
“People are sad because it’s the land of the misfit toys. A beautiful disaster…it is a special place…and just the simple pleasures that get us through the hardest times are why we’re there. It was the community. It was the entertainment. It was the connection.”
Now, the question remains: What really happened?
What Do You Think?
Is TikTok still the app you once loved? Or has the “ban” and its aftermath changed your perspective? Let me know in the comments!
For those who’ve already moved on, where are you headed next? Rednote? BlueSky? Or somewhere entirely new?
One thing’s for sure: the TikTokalypse has left its mark, and the TikTok community may never be the same again.
