In less than 24 hours TikTok is back.

Are we being played?

On the evening of January 18, 170 million Americans scrolled to the end of their For You Page on the popular social media app, TikTok. Threats of banning the app have existed since the rise of the app during the pandemic leaving many users wondering if the threat of the banning the app was real or another unsubstantiated hoax. Unfortunately, as we loomed closer to midnight, timelines began to glitch, profile photos defaulted and we were met with the following message:

“Sorry TikTok isn’t available right now. – A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you cannot use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!

The reactions to the ban are as diverse as its users with some people seeing it as an easy solution to an app that has ‘driven us to distraction’ and compromised national security. While others speculate that the ban is a political stunt to paint incoming President Trump as a savior to the 170 million users ahead of his inauguration. Some people view the ban as wake up call for the thousands of people who have used TikTok as a means to grow their small businesses, build community, and create content to “find a real job” and return to their 9-5, leaving many of those who have taken the leap to wonder, what’s next?

While most of our timelines were filled with intense emotions, jokes, and tears from creators and users alike the NYTimes article, What if No One Misses TikTok? - The New York Times, questioned why there was not more done to #SaveTikTok. The article concluded that though over half of Americans were not in favor of the ban and that the TikTok For You Page may be blame stating:

“TikTok’s design plays a big role here. The app is centered on a “For You” feed that prioritizes videos created by strangers, rather than clips posted by friends. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, where it’s still possible to interact with people you actually know, TikTok created a passive entertainment experience that, for many users, is completely disconnected from their offline lives.”

TikTok as a Third Place

As I read this article, I couldn’t help but think that as a neurodivergent person, this statement could not be further from the truth. For many neurodivergent people TikTok was the first place where we found the community that we never received in our offline lives. In fact, for many divergent people TikTok was the only social media app we used because showing our quirks to our family and friends was not welcome offline or online. For divergent people, TikTok was our third place.

Third places is a term created by American sociologist, Ray Oldenburg to describe the places outside of the home (the first place) and the workplace (the second place) where people go to converse with others and connect with their community.

The loss of TikTok for neurodivergent people, means a loss of community and safety. Our For You Pages (FYP) were full of creators that helped us see ourselves beyond our labels. It was where we gathered to learn the real reasons we struggled to find home in our offline reality. For us, TikTok was not a distraction, or a place to disassociate– it was a resource, a community, and a safe haven for the perpetually misunderstood neurodivergent community.

I reluctantly joined TikTok in 2020 during the pandemic believing it to be a dance app for kids. I never intended to become a creator. I was an awkward black girl whose expressed thoughts were always critiqued and dismissed. I was different, I knew that but I never knew why until I was diagnosed with Attention Hyper Deficit Disorder - Hyperactive (ADHD) followed by my Autism diagnosis in late 2022. I finally had the answer to why I always felt so different and why life always felt harder for me.

As late-diagnosis began to rise more people began to share their diagnosis stories on TikTok. Our shared stories created a community that gave people the courage to speak about their experiences without shame. As more people shared I noticed that though many of us knew the why behind our divergence we didn’t know how to navigate life after diagnosis. We were disappointed by the lack of care and accommodation in the real world. We were still rejected and unprotected.

I began making content for the neurodivergent community in early 2023. My goal of my content was to help people understand themselves beyond the label. To provide a resource for self-accomodation when outside accommodations were unavailable or unwilling. With the majority of resources for Autism and ADHD directed at children, I became a part of a larger community of creators that shared the same goal– to create a safe community for the late-diagnosed.

Neurodivergent people from all over the world used TikTok as a place to connect, learn, and grow. The people who came across our For You Pages helped us to connect and discover more about ourselves and each other. TikTok was not a distraction, it was our community and one of the only places online or offline that we could unmask without consequence.

The TikTok ban is destabilizing for the neurodivergent community. Most of us can’t simply move to another app and because of this many will be left without access to information, tools, and most importantly community. I know some people will argue that the reliance on the app supports the ban and for those people I want you to take a second to consider the accessibility, ease of use, and community that is lost on other platforms like YouTube and Meta.

Wait.. TikTok is back.

As I type this post, I received a Welcome Back message from the platform which states,

“Welcome Back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President’s Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S. You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”

Reading this as I type has brought on more emotions that will take time to process. I feel as if I am a part of a political game that I no longer want to play. As tears of anger and relief hit my keyboard in my local coffee shop I am reminded that our stability must always come from within because the world is fickle.

For all of you that have supported me on the app and outside of it I want to say thank you. Take care of yourself today and everyday. I will continue to create content and be a voice in a world that consistently drowns us out.

Let this be a reminder that the only thing you can control is you.

Until next time,

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be YOU.