Soooo, did… Did TikTok just go down for five minutes!? Five. Minutes. And for those five minutes, the entire world collectively lost its mind. Some of y’all were mid-lip sync, others were carefully editing a thirst trap, and then—poof—darkness. The app came right back up, but let’s pause and think about how terrifying that was. It was like someone flipped a light switch, shutting off millions of lives, incomes, and years of memories—all with a click. A literal blackout for our digital existence.

And sure, you could say it was just a glitch. Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe someone somewhere flexed just to remind us they could. The government, Big Tech, or whoever holds the controls—it doesn’t really matter. What matters is how fragile our lives have become in this interconnected, monetized, content-driven reality. Your viral videos? The family dances you recorded during lockdown? Gone. Your side hustle that's keeping your lights on? Gone. Years of laughter, lessons, and community-building? Bye-bye. Just like that.

A Playground or a Battlefield?

Remember when social media was fun? Facebook was for stalking your crush. Instagram was for showing off your lunch. Twitter was for oversharing your existential crisis at 2 a.m. And TikTok? It was just silly dances and a place for Gen Z to mock millennials. But no. Now, it’s all ads, side hustles, and government politics. What was supposed to be a playground has turned into a battlefield. And the real kicker? The battlefield isn’t even between us. It’s between governments and corporations fighting over data, taxes, and control.

TikTok, owned by ByteDance in China, is at the center of a global political chess game. The U.S. is worried about privacy, national security, and the fact that they can’t tax our TikTok money. That’s the real issue, isn’t it? Uncle Sam can’t get his cut. So now, we’re all pawns in a game we didn’t sign up for. It’s like the Boston Tea Party all over again, but this time, the tea is a 60-second video of a cat in a cowboy hat.

The Myth of Freedom

If you needed another reminder that we are not actually free, here it is. With a flip of a switch, the government can decide what we can and cannot access. They can take away not just our fun but also our livelihoods. That five-minute TikTok blackout was a preview of just how powerless we really are. And honestly, the more we let them decide what belongs to them and what doesn’t, the less safe I feel.

Because what’s next? Will they shut down Instagram because someone in Congress is salty their selfies don’t get likes? Will they nuke YouTube because a creator criticized their policies? Where does it end? The platforms that were supposed to give us a voice are now under threat of being silenced entirely.

Hilariously Serious Thoughts

Here’s the funny-not-funny part: TikTok probably just had a bug. But the collective meltdown that followed? That was real. It was a moment that showed how much of our lives, livelihoods, and even identities are tied to these platforms. It’s laughable how much power we’ve handed over without even realizing it. And yet, it’s sobering.

So, what do we do? Well, for one, we need to remember that these platforms don’t owe us anything. They’re businesses first, playgrounds second. But at the same time, we can’t let governments decide what’s ours to keep and what’s theirs to control. We have to advocate for better policies that protect our digital lives and freedoms. And maybe—just maybe—start backing up our content.

Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: the government doesn’t need TikTok to come after us. They’ll just find the next thing. And when they do, I hope we’re ready to fight for our right to dance. Or lip-sync. Or sell homemade candles in peace.

Until then, enjoy the dance off videos while they last.

Love, Queen Sheba 💞