Written by Dr. Laura Ellick, Guest Writer
While the ban on TikTok has been temporarily reversed, the impact of TikTok inaccessibility had a distinct effect on each generation. In meeting with individuals from each generational group, I was stunned by who “suffered” the most from the recent one-day ban.
What is TikTok and why was it banned?
TikTok is a social media platform from the Chinese company ByteDance that exploded during the COVID lockdown, when people had lots of time on their hands and were looking for ways to entertain themselves and connect with others. The app allows users to create, share, and watch video content from all over the world. During the lockdown, my daughter spent hours learning to perform endless dance routines that she and her friends would perfect and post. While I originally thought TikTok was an endless waste of time, even I was sucked in by the rapid-fire video content that required very little brainpower to process. Heck, I’ll admit that I even participated in a dance or two and found that learning complicated dance steps helped pass the time.
However, rumors swirled that TikTok’s owners, due to their link to China, posed a security risk to the United States. Legal wrangling ensued, with options including having the company sold or banning it entirely to prevent China from possibly accessing U.S. users’ data. Time ran out on the deadline for making a deal, and TikTok was banned. President Trump decided not to enforce the ban for 75 days, and access for users who already had the app was restored. At this time, it remains to be seen whether the company will be sold or if another ban will occur.
How did different generations respond to the ban?
It may come as no surprise that those in Gen Z delivered an emotional outpouring to reverse the TikTok ban. This is the generation that most often uses TikTok as a way to get and give information (even if it may be false) on topics including mental health and world events. TikTok has become a personal diary for many in this generation and the primary way of obtaining life advice and social support. As a result, those in this generation were left bereft and aimless, with no other ways of expressing or communicating their needs and emotions (a problem for a different article).
On the other side of the spectrum are the Baby Boomers, who have only been exposed to social media in their later years. For the most part, they don't "get it" anyway because they are still trying to learn how to text on an iPhone. Social media is generally not a part of their daily lives, so there has been little focus on the impact of the TikTok ban on their activities.
What has been most surprising is the reaction of both Millennials and Gen X. Millennials straddle the line in their dependence on social media because their Gen X parents were still reading books to them at night, watching, and singing along to The Wiggles when they were children. Many Millennials have expressed some relief that they don't have to worry about FOMO if TikTok gets banned. This generation still remembers a time before phones when everyone went outside to play, and they can see how their lives have been disrupted and negatively affected by social media.
Gen X, of course, is the generation that thinks they grew up in the best era ever (and we DID!) and has appropriated everything that their kids do on social media with the intent of doing it better. This generation has been game about recording content on their own or with their children and is feeling the potential permanent loss of TikTok. With their kids heading off to start their own lives, TikTok has become a new way for them to vent or develop new relationships (albeit online) as a way of coping.
What can you do if the TikTok ban becomes permanent?
Nobody knows at this point what may happen to TikTok after the 75-day extension. There is a possibility that the company may be sold to alleviate concerns that China mines users’ data from the app. However, there is still a chance that TikTok may be permanently disabled. If that winds up being the case, it makes sense to prepare for how to cope with TikTok withdrawal. These suggestions might make the transition a bit easier:
Start developing relationships IRL (“in real life” for those wanting to learn the lingo). Get back to meeting friends at Starbucks or the mall. Join a team sport and learn how to generate dopamine in a different way (and become healthier at the same time).
Start putting the phone away for certain periods of time during the day. As a parent, it drives me nuts when I see kids supposedly hanging out, but they are simply in the same room scrolling together. If you are an adult, go back to reading a book or newspaper, watching a show at night, or even being intimate with your partner. The blue light from our devices is said to disrupt sleep anyway.
If you are in distress, find a therapist or good friend to speak to instead of venting on social media. There’s something to be said for the connection that occurs from being vulnerable with another human being. In addition, nothing beats a great hug from a friend to make everything seem better!
It remains to be seen what the long-term impact of a permanent ban on TikTok would be on our culture. While some may be hopeful that we get back to a life filled with more in-person relating and connecting, it is more likely that another company will jump in to fill the void left by a TikTok ban. Maybe we can even get the Boomers on board. In the meantime, practice living more in the real world and getting out from behind the devices. See how your mental and physical health might benefit.
Dr. Laura Ellick, Guest Writer
Dr. Laura Ellick graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from The College of William and Mary, where she double majored in Psychology and Spanish. She then earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University and is now a Licensed Psychologist in New York, Florida, and Virginia. Dr. Ellick also holds a PSYPACT license which allows her to practice telepsychology in over 40 states. Dr. Ellick currently works with individuals, couples and families both virtually and in person in Florida. Her specialties include eating disorders, addictions, and working with those with chronic medical conditions including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Her passion for public speaking and educating others about psychology has led to a growing social media presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
She is the author of the books Total Wellness for Mommies and Wisdom from the Universe; her book chapter “Narcissists, Gaslighters, Toxic Relationships, OH MY” appears in The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self Care. Her podcast, Slightly Sane, is available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. She will be launching a new podcast called, “From Mayhem to Mindset with Dr. Laura” and can be reached here.
