I Deleted TikTok For A Month … Here’s What I Found Out
I’ve deleted TikTok more times than I can count. Every time, it’s the same cycle: I get fed up with the endless scrolling, the recycled trends, the feeling that I’m consuming way more than I’m creating. So I delete it. And then, a few weeks later, I redownload it. "Just to check in," I tell myself. "For work," I justify. Before I know it, I’m deep in a rabbit hole of sped-up audios and repurposed ideas that all start to feel the same.
It hit me recently that social media isn’t fueling creativity the way it used to. It’s watering it down. Instead of inspiring original ideas, the algorithm is feeding us the same formulaic content over and over until it becomes muscle memory. Social media managers, content creators, and even brands are stuck in this cycle, relying said algorithm to dictate creativity instead of looking inward for inspiration. While, yes, it can be rewarding to just roll with the current, does constantly recreating trends really encourage a brand’s individuality amongst it’s competition?
The truth is, scrolling through trends for "ideas" is just a more productive-looking form of procrastination. It tricks us into thinking we're being creative when, in reality, we’re just regurgitating what’s already been done. The most original content — the kind that actually stands out — comes from real experiences, genuine emotions, and the willingness to express something personal. We try to cover up our humanity through seeming perfect on our socials; however, it is our individual quirks, interests, and perceptions that lead to the best content. We are drawn to viewing raw human experiences because it elicits real human emotions.
Creativity isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about sharing perspectives that feel authentic. When we stop looking to social media for direction and start tapping into our own thoughts, stories, and ideas, we create content that resonates on a deeper level. Self-expression should be the driving force, not the algorithm.
During my time without TikTok, I visited New York, Costa Rica, Florida, and was also in my home state of North Carolina. Throughout this time, I saw the world for the first time in awhile through my eyes and felt a sort of quiet that I haven’t felt in years. I immediately came back to the app with this sense of individuality and want to post my content. Not the content that others want to see.
So maybe instead of doomscrolling for the next big thing, we should close the app and take a walk. Read something completely unrelated. Sit with our own thoughts for a while. Because at the end of the day, the best ideas won’t come from TikTok’s For You Page. They’ll come from you.