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TikTok, Time, and Turning the Spotlight Inward

Writer's picture: Lisa LiberatoreLisa Liberatore


TikTok is making headlines again—banned one minute, back the next, with everyone asking, "But for how long?" The internet is ablaze with opinions, memes, and heated debates. While I don't have TikTok myself, all the chatter got me thinking about my students from my time teaching at the Maine Business School.


For four years, I had the privilege of being an adjunct faculty member, where I created a course called Foundations for Your Future. The goal of the course was simple but powerful: help students figure out where they are now, where they want to go, and create a roadmap to get there.


One of the most eye-opening assignments in that class involved screen time. I’d ask students to estimate how much time they thought they spent on their phones, then track it for five days and reflect on the results.


The reflections were honest, raw, and sometimes steeped in shame. Several students were floored when they realized they had spent upwards of 40 hours on TikTok during that short period. Forty hours! These were the same students who often felt too "busy" to work on the dreams and goals we mapped out in class.


For many, this exercise was a wake-up call. They started to see the gap between how they perceived their time and how they were actually spending it. Some realized their social isolation wasn’t because of a lack of opportunities but because hours spent scrolling had replaced time they could’ve used to join clubs or connect with others in person.


I share this not to shame anyone but to remind all of us—myself included—how easy it is to get stuck in a pattern that doesn’t serve us. If you’re feeling like you don’t have enough time to work on your goals, I challenge you to try this same exercise. Track your screen time for five days and reflect on the results.


Sometimes, the truth can feel uncomfortable. But shining a spotlight on it is the first step toward meaningful change. Who knows? Putting down the phone for a bit might just free up the time and energy you need to move closer to the life you want.


And hey, if TikTok ends up banned again tomorrow, maybe it’s the perfect excuse to give this challenge a try.

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