‘SNL’ Mocks TikTok Users’ Responses to US Ban
During its first episode of 2025 on January 18, “Saturday Night Live” tackled the contentious TikTok ban in the United States.
Cast member Michael Longfellow made a heartfelt appeal in the “Weekend Update” segment, urging officials to spare the Chinese-owned app from the impending blackout set to commence the next day.
“This is the first political stance I’ve ever taken,” Longfellow remarked to “Weekend Update” co-anchor Micheal Che, before diving into his amusing commentary that hilariously revealed his struggles in differentiating between reality and fiction found on TikTok.
Longfellow spent three uproarious minutes addressing the “valid reasons” Che provided to support the ban.
“Like what? Because it’s Chinese? Are we just banning things solely because they come from China now? You know who else came from China?” Longfellow questioned, gesturing upwards. “That’s right, Jesus Christ… I thought he was Middle Eastern, but I saw it on a TikTok. Chinese. Jesus Christ was Chinese.”
Regarding the concerns that TikTok might be harvesting user data, Longfellow nonchalantly replied, “Who cares about my data? Oh no, China knows I like thick Latinas. Who doesn’t? Get real.”
Longfellow also dismissed the studies claiming TikTok is “harmful” to users’ brains.
“Ahh, this is dull, I’m bored,” Longfellow told Che, swiping his arm upward.
“Sorry. I have no attention span. I have ADHD… I’ll never forget my diagnosis. It was last year. I took a TikTok quiz, and after taking it three times, it said I might have ADHD,” he added, revealing that he even got an Adderall prescription from the app.
Che questioned Longfellow about his concern for future generations regarding the app’s dangers.
However, Longfellow was more focused on the generations “already lost,” currently struggling without the app, even if briefly, as it was swiftly reinstated the next day.
“What happens to us? How do we go on now?” he pondered.
Che pointed out that Longfellow had lived without TikTok for most of his life and could return to his former way of living.
“I don’t recall how. I know I existed before TikTok, I must have. But that person is gone. He’s gone and he’s not returning. Without TikTok, I’m lost. What do I do at work? What do I even watch in a movie?”
“You watch the movie!” Che responded.
“But during, Che,” Longfellow countered. “What do I do when I get bored for a few seconds?”
“You still watch the movie!” Che insisted.
“I’m moving to China,” Longfellow declared at the end.
SNL viewers celebrated Longfellow’s witty observations, with many finding them relatable on YouTube.
“What do I watch during a movie really resonates with me LMAO because I definitely grab my phone during the dull parts,” one commenter mentioned.
“This was full of jokes, man lol. Longfellow’s best update yet,” another viewer added.