This week I’ve been home from college on fall break meaning I’ve spent A LOT of time on my phone- particularly TikTok. I was on the app laughing at videos (there really are a lot of good ones) when I came to realize the age difference between me and a large proportion of the app’s users. I’m aware that I’m turning 20 in two months, but I never thought of myself as old until I experienced TikTok.

As I was scrolling the “For You Page”, I came across endless videos related to PSAT memes, homecoming, high school, and sneaking out of the house. As old as these videos made me feel, it was the comments I saw on videos made by other college aged users that made me feel ancient on the app. Users my age have made videos related to Vines and old Nickelodeon and Disney shows/ movies and some of the comments I witnessed are quite disturbing. As a reaction to an “iCarly” themed video, I saw MANY replies saying, “I’ve never seen this show” or, “iCarly?”. I have also found that many younger users do not understand Vine references.

What’s crazy to me is that I feel like it was just yesterday that I would come home from middle school, sit on the couch, and watch TeenNick and Vine. Now the younger generation is clueless to the significance of these shows and videos. This app has caused me to realize how quickly time flies and that we can’t take it for granted- we should try to always appreciate the little things in life. I also genuinely feel bad for the younger generation because they will never know the magic of the real Nick and Disney channels, or the comedic genius which was Vine.