Chrissy Teigen, cookbook author and model, has sparked a lively online discussion with her proposal for a nationwide social media curfew. Her comments came in the wake of a temporary TikTok outage over the weekend that caused a stir among users, leaving many to ponder life without their favorite platforms.
“I think social media should be shut down between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.,” Teigen shared via her Instagram Story on Saturday night. The suggestion has drawn mixed reactions, with some applauding the idea of reclaiming time and others dismissing it as impractical.
A Nostalgic Look at Life Before Social Media
Speaking candidly from her bed, Teigen reflected on the days before social platforms became a constant presence in daily life. “Life was awesome before this,” she said. Teigen’s tone was both wistful and persuasive as she described a world where people could disconnect and enjoy simpler pleasures without the pervasive influence of online interactions.
She acknowledged the irony of making these statements while using social media but argued that it’s possible to step back from digital life. “This doesn’t have to define us or be our whole lives,” she added, addressing her 43 million Instagram followers.
Teigen’s remarks tapped into a growing cultural conversation about the role of technology in modern life. For some, it was a refreshing reminder to reevaluate the balance between screen time and offline moments.
The TikTok Shutdown That Triggered Chaos
Teigen’s comments coincided with TikTok’s brief but dramatic shutdown on Saturday night. For approximately 12 hours, the app was inaccessible to more than 170 million American users, who were greeted with a message stating that the platform was temporarily unavailable due to a U.S. law banning TikTok. The message hinted at ongoing legal and political struggles over the Chinese-owned app’s presence in the United States.
Although TikTok resumed operations by Sunday morning, the outage was enough to send shockwaves through its community. Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Lizzo voiced their frustration, while many users shared their disbelief and confusion on other platforms.
The company credited President-elect Donald Trump with providing clarity on the app’s legal status, stating, “We thank President Trump for ensuring that TikTok can continue to serve millions of Americans.”
Was It All a PR Move?
The abrupt shutdown and its timing raised eyebrows among policy experts. Joel Thayer, a Washington, D.C.-based tech lawyer, suggested that the outage might have been a calculated public relations stunt rather than a genuine technical or legal issue.
“TikTok’s early shutdown either came down to corporate incompetence or a deliberate PR stunt to encourage a manufactured sense of panic,” Thayer told The Post. “Given its waffling, I’m assuming it’s the latter.”
The controversy has reignited questions about TikTok’s future in the U.S. and its relationship with policymakers. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is still grappling with demands to sell its U.S. business to an American firm, a condition tied to national security concerns.
A Broader Conversation About Social Media’s Role
Teigen’s comments, though sparked by a specific incident, point to a larger debate about social media’s impact on mental health, relationships, and society at large. While her proposed curfew might seem extreme, it resonates with those who believe that setting boundaries could help mitigate issues like online addiction, anxiety, and misinformation.
At the same time, critics argue that such a policy would be difficult to enforce and potentially infringe on personal freedoms. Social media has become an integral part of how people communicate, work, and stay informed, making any restrictions a contentious proposition.
As the dust settles, Teigen’s comments continue to spark conversation. Whether her social media curfew suggestion gains traction or fades into the noise, it’s clear that the interplay between technology, policy, and culture will remain a hot topic.