The Final Hour: A Look Inside TikTok’s Last Moments on Saturday Night

When word got out that TikTok would go dark at 5:30 p.m. PT, the marathon scrolling began.

Observing how others were feeling and ensuring our presence during the last moments before TikTok went offline proved to be a bittersweet, slightly nerve-wracking experience. We aimed to offer insight into the atmosphere in the final hour before the platform’s temporary shutdown.

Unaware of TikTok’s imminent return the following morning, my colleague Heather Edwards, the Editor-in-Chief, and I utilized that closing hour to gather intriguing content for our readers. Despite the app’s quick return, we wanted to share our experience of TikTok’s final moments with you.

The concluding, gloomy scroll through TikTok on Saturday featured videos that summarized creators’ journeys on the app, cherished memories, and heartfelt farewells. Some creators also shared updates and perspectives on the situation, like @Jaxwritessongs’ informative video.

Her video was captioned, “Thank you guys for completely changing my life and giving me a chance to pursue my dreams. I will be forever grateful for the friends I made on this app. I pray my daughter will get to experience a platform like this one day. I am so angry. I am so sad. I will never forget this chapter. I love you all. We ride at dawn for you @shou.” In the video, Jax shares some news about TikTok being banned, as well as her thoughts behind it all.

“I’m sorry sir, I thought the ‘national security threat’ was in terms of data collection,” she said in response to a news report calling TikTok a “potentially more powerful propaganda tool.”

“Here are some fun facts. Instagram, Facebook, Google, DoorDash, and Airbnb all collect more data than TikTok,” she continued. “TikTok has contributed more than $24 billion to US gross domestic product and more than 224,000 jobs to the US economy.”

She continued to share facts about TikTok and all the good it’s been doing, as well as comparing TikTok to Meta.

Her video quickly went viral with more than 17 million views in one day. Many took to the comments to share their thoughts.

“And the fact that you just gave us all this info easily without searching it is why they hate this app,” one person wrote. Another said, “We are free to have opinions, but they don’t want us to have choices.”

TikTok doesn’t only attract the younger generation. People from all generations found TikTok a safe place to share their lives, and Grandma Droniak is proof of that. She shares her wisdom, dating tips, and life on the app. She shared a sad video to say goodbye to all her loyal followers.

“This app gave me a purpose late in life. I always wanted to be famous and it made my dream come true in my 90s. I can expire happy now. I don’t wanna lose you all,” is written on the video of her expressing her sadness.

The video quickly went viral with more than 3 million views and tons of supportive and loving comments.

“Oh this one hurt,” one viewer wrote in the comments. “Keep slaying everyday Grandma. Legends never expire.”

In a follow up video, the popular TikTok grandma shared her Instagram information so fans can keep up with her fun antics.

Brian Moller, known for his playful yet informational videos, shared a video on Saturday about all the social media apps millennials have been through. While scrolling, I fully expected to see his take on the gloom and doom of TikTok going dark and wasn’t disappointed when his video popped up in my FYP.

As with all of his videos, viewers could relate to his views and shared their thoughts in the comment section.

“It’s no joke Millennials have been through every social media ever,” one person wrote. Another added, “I was really waiting for one of your videos. I’m so glad I at least got to see it before it goes dark. Thank you for the laughs.”

A few days prior, he shared a video about the possibility of the ban staring TikTok users down.

Captioned, “The TikTok Time of Our Lives,” he plays the roles of each popular social media apps and what they would be thinking right about now. His skits not only entertain but also inform viewers and he’s collected many fans over the years with his relatable perspectives.

Being a Vegas resident, I knew @VegasStarfish would pop into my FYP. Seeing her farewell video felt like a piece of home and brought some instant sadness about the app going dark.

“Well this is it, my friends. It’s the TikTok Swan song, and unless something major happens in the new few days, this may be my last post on the app,” she began her goodbye video. “Thank you for allowing me to share Las Vegas with you and thank you for coming along on the adventure. You absolutely changed my life.”

She shared more of her experience on TikTok and gratitude for the app and everyone on it.

“When my mom first moved to Vegas I was very anxious but then you were on my FYP. YOU helped me by giving me a sense of comfort about her being there so thank you,” one person wrote in the comments. Another person shared, “Thank you for all the great suggestions for vacationing in Las Vegas. You were extremely helpful.”

After TikTok came back on Sunday morning, she shared another video about being back.

Wildly popular TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee, who found great success on the app, shared a final video on Saturday that had big news at the end. He made sure to leave TikTok with an entertaining video that kept fans intrigued until the end.

“If this is my last time here, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate y’all and goodbye,” he said in the beginning of his video while in his car. After exiting his car with boxes of food for his family, the story begins.

Lee gets multiple phone calls and while we can hear what the person on the other end is saying, viewers can only hear Lee saying, “mur mur mur” as to add to the mystery of the big news shared at the end.

The video goes on with Lee walking through his house and getting phone call after phone call. At the end of the video, he reveals his news about a new food tour and the platforms he’s going to be sharing his new videos on.

(We won’t give any of his news away. You’ll just have to watch his video to find out where he’s going next, and what platforms you can watch his future videos.)