TikToxic

Time's Up; Rules Change

Dear, sweet TikTok… you saucy, seductive, wily little thing.

I remember when I first met you - you were so captivating at the beginning, so much so I went from curious to intrigued to addicted… in a mere slip of time.

And you knew how to hook me during those early stages, using your alluring algorithm to draw me in; you introduced me to people I would adore, content I would enjoy… content I would eventually crave.

You lured me into your darkness with promises of attention and validation and support if I just put myself out there… and I did.

And at first you delivered, as all crafty predators do; yep, you certainly did, and I believed in you.

My fault - I should have known better.

Time passed and I started noticing you acting differently toward me; a deleted comment here, and banned video there… watching you attack and discard my new friends, the very ones to whom you introduced me.

But I told myself these were isolated incidents, that deep down you were good for me, because of your previous actions.

After all, no social media site had treated me this way since my torrid affair with MySpace; that algorithm of yours, so provocative, generously bestowing views and likes and friends… only to brutally yank them away again.

And again.

Oh, your abuse was so subtle I could almost ignore it.

Then, you removed the mask and revealed your true nature, banning one of my accounts… and I had done nothing wrong, though you tried to convince me otherwise.

Now, did I do the smart thing - acknowledge your toxic nature and devest myself?

No, despite your venomous nature I came back to you… willingly and eagerly, because - though I didn’t understand it at the time - I needed you a lot more than you needed me.

And you knew it; it was at this point I knew something was very wrong in this relationship.

Since then you have held me in your grasp, deploying manipulation and gaslighting to keep me with you out of both hope and fear.

You give just enough to make me believe in you again, only for you to snatch everything away after I have been drawn back in, a ceaseless rollercoaster of emotion.

But your latest actions have gone too far; enough is enough, for I am sick and tired of being abused by you.

I do not need you anymore, so I am done playing by your rules.

Now… it is my turn to use you.

And it will be easy for me - because I no longer care about you.

At all.