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No More TikTok? Come Dance with Us!

bgdchicago

It’s official: TikTok is over. Whether this turns out to be a fleeting pause or a permanent shift, it’s got much of the world in a tailspin. While some are mourning the loss of an app that connected millions through creativity, I can’t help but see this as an opportunity—an invitation to refocus.

Let’s be honest: social media has become a massive distraction for all of us. How many hours have we lost mindlessly scrolling? How many trends have we chased because “everyone”


The windshield is always bigger than the rear view, focus on what's ahead!
The windshield is always bigger than the rear view, focus on what's ahead!

said it was the thing to do? I’ll admit, even I’ve fallen victim to the TikTok effect—making purchases based on viral recommendations, only to be left disappointed and feeling duped. When will we learn? Life isn’t about following; it’s about becoming.

Becoming good stewards of our gifts. Becoming intentional about how we spend our time. Becoming contributors to the communities we care about.

Which brings me to focus. What we focus on increases. TikTok, Instagram, Twitter—they’ve all convinced us to focus on the external. What’s trendy? What’s popular? What will get us the most likes? But what if we shifted our focus inward, toward our gifts and the people around us? Imagine how much we could grow if we traded 30 minutes of scrolling for 30 minutes of practicing, journaling, or creating. Imagine how much stronger our communities would become if we invested our energy in them instead of apps designed to distract us.

Speaking of community, I can’t believe how ours has grown. Five years ago, I took a leap of faith and went full throttle with Black Girls Dance. It’s been a wild ride—exhausting and exhilarating, thankless and fulfilling all at the same time. What I love most is operating in my gift and watching young brown and Black girls develop into amazing, fearless humans. They are focused. They are determined. They are proof that when you prioritize your passion and your purpose, incredible things happen.

So, while the world is reeling from the loss of TikTok, I’m celebrating. This is a chance for young people to reconnect with what they truly want, not what the algorithm tells them they should want. It’s a chance for all of us to step away from the thumbnail on our phones and start focusing on the bigger picture.

Here at Black Girls Dance, we’re building something real. Something lasting. Something that isn’t dependent on likes or follows. If you’re ready to shift your focus and get moving, come dance with us. Let’s put our energy into what matters most—our growth, our gifts, and our community.


With Gratitude,

Erin D. Barnett

Executive Director

Black Girls Dance®

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