From the moment that Musical.ly became TikTok back in 2018, I was hooked. No other app provided me with as much entertaining and captivating content. It seemed like it always knew what videos to show me to keep me scrolling on the app for hours. Granted, TikTok was the greatest information source when it came to niche topics. I would often turn to TikTok rather than Google for any question I had regarding fashion, travel and more. I even had a number of videos “blow up” or go viral, generating millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes. It was an adrenaline rush, and I would keep chasing that feeling by posting almost every day and spending even more time on the app trying to figure out its algorithm so I too could be an influencer. It was the most addictive app I’d ever had in my entire life.
However, TikTok did not come without its negatives. My screen time was through the roof due to the many hours I dedicated to doomscrolling. Most days it would be over 9 hours, which is shocking for me to process now. I tried to set a screen time limit on my phone for TikTok, but I always ended up ignoring the limit and eventually getting rid of it altogether.
Being exposed to so many different influencers on TikTok blurred my view of reality. I would constantly compare myself to others after watching their seemingly perfect lifestyles, including the way they looked, dressed, vacationed, what they ate and overall just how they lived. I’d beat myself up for not being as beautiful or skinny or wealthy as the influencers I followed. Tiktok made me more self-conscious than ever, and I allowed it to happen.
Near the end of 2024, I knew this app had taken control of me, but I didn’t want to do anything about it. Over the years, I had accumulated over 2000 drafts (crazy, I know) and I was holding onto them so tightly for no reason. When you delete TikTok, all of your drafts permanently delete as well, and I couldn’t bear to see 6 years of memories gone from my phone. Everything changed when I got a new phone for Christmas that year. At the Apple store, I begged the employee to transfer all the data from my old phone to my new one so my drafts would still be intact. She assured me everything would transfer, but when I opened TikTok on my new phone, my worst fear had come true. All of my drafts were gone. I was so attached to this stupid app that I panicked for days over meaningless videos.
After letting everything sink in, I realized how irrational I’d been and how much one app had taken over my life. I attempted to keep the app on my phone, but I knew that this was a sign that it finally had to go. In January, I deleted TikTok for the first and last time ever. It was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself, and I’ve never felt the need to redownload or use the app since. Deleting TikTok changed my life, and here’s why:
I am more present
I no longer cling to my phone like it’s my life support. Before I deleted TikTok, my eyes were glued to my phone at all times and my screen time was through the roof. Now, I only go on my phone to speak to my friends and family and take photos. The only social media I use now is Instagram, where I get to share photos of my life. I’ve also struggled with procrastination my entire life, but it’s gotten so much better after deleting TikTok. Completing my tasks has never been easier because I don’t have anything on my phone distracting me.
I am disconnected– but in a good way
I used to be on top of every trend, meme or viral audio, but now I have no idea what’s going on in the TikTok world and I honestly love it. Whenever my friends reference new memes or trends, I am clueless, which, believe it or not, is so exciting to me. I feel like I’m finally living in the real world, not an online one.
I’m no longer trapped in a toxic social media and “stalking” culture
I don’t feel the need to follow any influencers anymore or compare myself to something I see online. Social media, especially TikTok, is all tailored, and people only post the parts of their lives they want you to see. Furthermore, I don’t go down a rabbit hole of stalking the people I’m not on good terms with. Everyone has done it before, and I admit I used to stalk way more often than I’m proud of. TikTok implementing an anonymous viewer feature and putting people’s reposts on display made it so easy for me to stalk people and overanalyze every little thing about their profile, but now I have no idea what anyone is up to, and frankly, I don’t care. Deleting TikTok has made me realize how stupid and immature social media culture is.
I have discovered so much more about myself and my personality
When I had TikTok, I would buy things just because an influencer I liked had them. I didn’t really know who I was or what I liked. Deleting TikTok let me pursue myself authentically, and now I feel more in tune with myself than ever. I’ve pursued countless new hobbies that have actually stuck, and started to discover my personal style. Instead of doomscrolling, I now get to focus on enriching things, like reading, practicing my piano, Pilates and focusing more on schoolwork.
Deleting TikTok doesn’t sound that crazy, but it has been the most impactful decision I have ever made for myself. 2025 has been a year of major growth for me, and I don’t think it would’ve been the same had I not gotten rid of TikTok. If any part of this article resonates with you, I strongly urge you to do the same and try deleting social media, especially TikTok. Set a goal for at least one week free from social media, and I can almost guarantee you won’t miss it. We’re almost into a new year, so let it be the one where you decide to make a change.