It started as a joke. It was only to see if it was actually as bad as people say. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. 

A hard truth that you have to come to terms with post-college is that your friends that you used to see so often now have to move on with their lives. Some join the workforce, some continue their schooling, and some move back with their mom and face existential dread and loneliness alone in their bedroom that has been turned into a storage room without them knowing. 

Keeping in contact is also tiring at times and life is busy. There’s only so many times you can answer “just staring at my wall with a Black Cherry Whiteclaw, still listening to Self Control off Blond in 2019” after being asked what you’ve been up to before you become fatigued. 

From the rotting corpse of Vine came a hero, albeit one that needed much work. 

TikTok is the Aquaman of social media. In the beginning it was the joke of its peers. Then it started hitting the gym. Started putting all the girls he hooked up with in a group chat. Got an expensive tattoo sleeve. Now, TikTok is not only the app that you would find in bed with your girlfriend, but he’s also playing your PS4 and destroying your 2K MyCareer stats. *insert Tik Tok of that kid crying to PARTYNEXTDOOR while playing 2K*

Young TikTok was the Aquaman that was treated like a Make-a-Wish kid that the Justice League were contractually obligated to bring around. Now, he’s come out looking like Jason Momoa.

With a variety of quality content, I can now exclusively use these to communicate. No longer do I have to spend time typing out messages that take effort. I can just hit three buttons and that’s it. It’s a nice and easy way of sending a gentle reminder of “Hey, I haven’t forgotten about you. We’re still friends :-).”

The issue with it though, is that I don’t know when to stop. Friends that I consider close will receive them frequently in their texts from me. I don’t know the last time I sent an actual message. Even people that I consider friends but don’t regularly talk to get them. I send them and don’t say a word, just to disappear into the sunset like the hero in a western movie. *insert Tik Tok of those cowboys riding that barrel thing*

Would I send one to a girl that I was romantically interested in? I wouldn’t put it past me to try.

It’s only a matter of time before I send one to an old friend who responds with “Aren’t you that guy that I had a group project with sophomore year? Why do you still have my number?”

*Disclaimer: We would’ve included actual Tik Toks in this blog but we think our WordPress plan doesn’t include video uploads. Henlo Lizard is grassroots.*