It’s like losing Vine all over again

TikTok is set to be banned in the United States of America (USA) tomorrow, Jan 19, 2025, although our team—and publication—are Canadian, it’s been a somber few days on the app. Many Americans are saying goodbye to the app and paying tribute to the many eras of TikTok, and there are many. Some of my favourites include: the POV era ruled by white boys and LED lights; the egirl takeover that even I fell victim to; everything about the hype house and its existence (shoutout Addison Rae for making it out alive); the Adult Swim trend which remains iconic; there are many more but we’ll save them for our walk down memory lane.

It’s like losing Vine all over again.

I downloaded TikTok at the beginning of quarantine when I was 21—now I’m about to turn 26, and although the app isn’t getting banned here in Canada (at least not yet), it does feel like the end of an era. Who knows what will happen to the app? My theory is that Trump will jump in last minute and save the day solely to become the “hero who saved TikTok” in some bizarre attempt to win over the hearts of Gen Z’s most chronically online.

My FYP has invoked unsettling levels of nostalgia. I’m watching 2019 trends, listening to early-COVID bedroom pop hits from artists who never made it out of their 15 minutes of fame, and most notably ‘Hit or Miss’ has infiltrated my feed again.

Do not cite the Deep Magic to me. I was there when it was written.

Thought I was just a casual TikTok user? You thought wrong. I was posting this on main in 2019.

You really had to be there…

As we say our goodbyes, I thought it would be nice to take one last walk down memory lane together. It’s been real, America, we’ll miss you, you were the backbone of this app <3

You think I would forget to include THE edits?!?!?!

Final question…

WAS SHIFTING REAL?! OR WERE ALL YOU POTTERHEADS UNDER MASS PSYCHOSIS. PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW.

It’s been real, long live 2020 TikTok.