7,000 Americans are about to lose their jobs—plus countless creators and marketers—because the government has decided to punish an entire platform without a trial. A space for creators, businesses, and communities, wiped out in the name of… what, exactly?

This isn’t just about dance videos or viral trends. TikTok has become a vital ecosystem, not just for entertainment but for education, advocacy, and connection. For some, it’s a livelihood. For others, it’s a lifeline.

My Relationship With Social Media Marketing -

I used to love platforms like Instagram and Facebook. My posts would receive thousands of likes, hundreds of comments, and real engagement. I taught classes and made my living thanks to the opportunities these platforms provided.

But over the years, I became jaded. Frustrated. Indifferent.

Not because I stopped believing in social media marketing—I still believe in its potential. I believe in building communities, connecting with customers, and sharing valuable information with people who actually want it. I believe in entertaining and inspiring others.

What wore me down were the platforms themselves. Constant algorithm changes. The never-ending race for engagement. The pressure to churn out content like a machine. It became less about connection and more about survival. It stopped feeling human.

That’s where TikTok felt different.

TikTok: More Than Entertainment

TikTok isn’t perfect, but it’s been a breath of fresh air in a stifling digital landscape. It’s a space where creativity feels raw and authentic. A place where marginalized voices find audiences, where businesses connect directly with consumers, and where communities grow around shared interests.

For me personally, Tiktok has been transformative. I’ve learned more about my body and health through TikTok than I ever did from our fragmented healthcare system. The platform has provided me with insights that I’ve been able to confirm with my doctors—information that would have otherwise fallen through the cracks of a system that forces patients to connect the dots themselves.

It drives culture. It’s the “pulse” of modern culture

TikTok isn’t just a platform. It’s a tool for education, advocacy, and empowerment. Losing it feels like losing a voice we desperately need

Why This Social Media Ban Feels Personal

Right now, I don’t even want to use any Meta product. I don’t want to give them my money, my time, or my content. Supporting a company lobbying to ban its competition because they can’t make a better product feels wrong.

Banning another company isn’t innovation—it’s manipulation. It’s not protecting consumers; it’s punishing them. It’s erasing opportunities for creators, small businesses, and anyone who relies on these platforms to amplify their voices.

This isn’t just about TikTok. It’s about what this ban represents: the silencing of voices, the loss of livelihoods, and the setting of a dangerous precedent.

No Next Steps, Just Sadness…

I don’t have any next steps or words of advice this time. I’m just sad.

I’m sad for the 7,000 employees who will lose their jobs. I’m sad for creators and marketers who rely on TikTok for their income. I’m sad for marginalized voices, whose stories and advocacy might no longer reach the audiences they need.

And I’m sad for my own body, which has benefited from knowledge shared on this platform. TikTok has filled gaps left by a broken healthcare system and connected me to the information I didn’t know I needed.

Losing TikTok feels like losing more than a platform. It feels like losing a part of our collective voice.

Let’s not pretend this is just about national security or consumer protection. It’s about power. And those who stand to lose the most are the ones who need platforms like TikTok the most.