TikTok was the first app that made me feel old. Now I realise it’s much more than dance and prank videos

‘When you use TikTok you get your serving of dance and prank videos but also tutorials, lifehacks and worthwhile bits of knowledge.’ Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty Images

I am becoming a better person against my will. I was in no mood to change or grow. I had not reached a turning point and I have never declared that enough is enough. I was in the process of having a delightful nap right on my laurels. If anything, I was actively trying to waste my time. But sadly, sickeningly, I have undergone self-improvement. Worst of all, I know where the blame lies – TikTok.

TikTok was the first app that really made me feel old. Or, worse, realise that I am not young any more. I did not understand it, I did not have the energy to engage with it, and I had no desire to ever post on it. Starting a TikTok account in your 30s felt like investing in a toupee. Just let it go, dude, it’s over.