It seemed as if January 19th was the day every TikTok user across the U.S. was dreading. For millions, it was a day when the app, which has become a vital lifeline for entertainment, news, and social connection, was suddenly inaccessible. On a much smaller scale, students at Wittenberg University said the 12-hour blackout felt surreal and dystopian, leaving them uncertain about the future of our media landscape.
Kyngston Collins, a senior majoring in sports management, thought the ban was devastating. “At first I felt sad,” she said. “I get most of my information from TikTok through scrolling.”
Collins was just one of the 170 million Americans who were blocked from being able to access the application on Saturday, January 18th, two hours before the ban was supposed to take place. When TikTok users in the U.S. tried to watch or post any videos, they received a pop-up message with this headline: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now; unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The pop message went on to say, “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!”
“It’s almost like the stuff you hear about in other countries that we demonize.”
-Reagan Simpson
Simpson, much like other Wittenberg students, was glad to see the app spring back to life hours later but was worried about the stake of our media's future. “I was relieved,” she said. “I know it’s not going to be the same app we had before, and at what cost?”
President Trump spearheaded the TikTok ban in 2020 when he issued executive orders banning both Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok. These executive orders were then blocked by the Supreme Court. Last year, the momentum to officially ban the app emerged in Congress, only this time, Trump publicly opposed the legislation. Trump has since credited the app with helping his administration to win the election with young voter support.
For Wittenberg students, reading that message left an eerie feeling. Reagan Simpson, a senior and English major, explained how unsettling the blackout felt: “This felt very dystopian,” she said. “It’s almost like the stuff you hear about in other countries that we demonize.”
The cost has become the central theme of the TikTok discussion, especially among Wittenberg students. For some, like Simpson, the media blackout sparked a conversation about the price of constant digital connectivity. Beyond losing access to the app, some Wittenberg students were worried about issues of privacy, well-being, authentic connection, and convenience at the cost of possible government control.
This decision only reaffirmed junior psychology major Gabriella Gonzalez's decision not to download TikTok. “This app was just designed for our short attention spans,” Gonzalez said. “They want you to chase that dopamine high you get that makes the app so entertaining.”
While the shutdown of TikTok may have seemed like a victory for some, it’s clear that the landscape of social media will forever be changed. In fact, Gonzalez noticed that other apps such as Instagram had started to mimic the TikTok algorithm. With Instagram expanding its features to support longer videos and altering its iconic grid layout, the competition for user attention in the short video space is intensifying.
For some students, like sophomore sports management major Troy Crosby, the app’s closure was a welcomed change. “I was excited for it to shut down,” he said. “TikTok just brain rots this generation.”
In the app’s latest update, President Trump said that TikTok could be acquired by a newly proposed U.S. sovereign wealth fund. As this social media landscape continues to evolve, users are left to simply adjust to the changing tides.
