The Best TikToks About TikTok Getting Banned

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Wait, never mind. Don’t cry because it’s not over at all. For 14-ish hours, TikTok went dark in the United States of America, to protect its citizens from Speidi a credible threat to national security. Then the threat was averted, apparently, because TikTok is back baby!

It’s been a weird 72 hours or so. First, the Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban. Then Biden said his administration wouldn’t enforce it. Then TikTok was removed from the Google and Apple app stores and everyone’s FYP’s went black. Then Trump reversed the ban via Truth Social? But the app still isn’t in app stores, and CapCut is still down. And throughout this tumult (except for the 14 hours they were locked out the app) the good people of TikTok posted through it. Here’s the best ones.

The Before Times

A good chunk of TikToks during the period before the Supreme Court’s ruling focused on our personal Chinese spies and how much we love them/they love us. Both looking up at the same moon, etc. The mood was wistful. But then there was also this person who taped his FYP for historical purposes.

Countdown to Extinction

The people who stayed till the end, they knew who they were. And they knew what Gilded Age tragedy of corporate hubris they were reliving.

But then there was this person who hired an Etsy witch to get the ban reversed. …Good job?

After the End

We are so back, and yet it still feels so over. With TikTok shop and CapCut down, TikTok Live severely hampered, and a weird notification praising Trump, the vibes are off even if the lights are back on. But Kelsey Kotzur has the name of that Etsy witch if you’re interested.

Related

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• TikTok Is Back (For Now)