On April 19, 2020, the world was deep in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries had imposed lockdowns, hospitals were overwhelmed, and daily life had shifted indoors. Amid this global crisis, social media became a lifeline for connection, expression, and even humor. One viral trend that emerged during this time was the use of the hashtag #onthisday on platforms like TikTok, where users reflected on past events or shared nostalgic, surreal, or darkly comic takes on life under lockdown. A video posted by creator @anotherchayainthekitchen, captioned simply “#onthisday covid times where wild,” captured a moment of collective disbelief and dark wit that resonated with millions trying to make sense of an unprecedented era.
While the original TikTok video does not provide specific details about its content beyond the caption, the phrase “covid times where wild” became a shorthand for the bizarre, often surreal reality of life during the pandemic’s early months. From toilet paper hoarding and balcony sing-alongs to Zoom mishaps and tiger king mania, the spring of 2020 was marked by a strange blend of fear, boredom, and unexpected moments of levity. Verified public health data and cultural archives confirm that April 2020 was a pivotal moment in the pandemic timeline, particularly in the United States and Europe, where infection rates were peaking and public health messaging was evolving rapidly.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by April 19, 2020, there were over 2.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally and more than 150,000 deaths WHO Situation Report – April 19, 2020. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 700,000 cases and nearly 37,000 deaths on that date CDC COVID Data Tracker Archive – April 19, 2020. These numbers underscored the severity of the crisis, even as people turned to platforms like TikTok to process their experiences through creativity and shared irony.
The pandemic’s impact on mental health was profound and well-documented. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry in June 2020 found that rates of anxiety and depression increased significantly during lockdowns, particularly among young adults and frontline workers Lancet Psychiatry – Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns. Trends like #onthisday served not just as entertainment but as informal coping mechanisms—ways to acknowledge the absurdity of the moment without minimizing its real-world toll.
How TikTok Became a Pandemic Diary
TikTok, launched internationally in 2018, saw explosive growth during the pandemic. By April 2020, the app had surpassed 2 billion downloads worldwide, with users spending an average of 52 minutes per day on the platform Sensor Tower – TikTok Reaches 2 Billion Installs (April 2020). Much of this surge was driven by Generation Z and millennials seeking connection, distraction, and creative outlet during isolation.
Content trends during this period reflected the shared experience of lockdown life. Hashtags like #quarantinelife, #tiktokmademebuyit, and #ontheweekend flourished. The #onthisday tag, in particular, allowed users to juxtapose past memories with present realities—sometimes humorously, sometimes poignantly. Videos ranged from throwbacks to pre-pandemic travel to ironic comparisons like “#onthisday: me worrying about finals vs. Me now worrying if I touched my groceries.”
The video by @anotherchayainthekitchen fits within this broader pattern. Though the exact visuals of the clip are not publicly archived in a verifiable format, the caption alone speaks to a widespread sentiment: disbelief at how quickly normal life had unraveled. Phrases like “covid times where wild” echoed in comment sections across TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, becoming a verbal shorthand for the surrealism of the moment.
Public Health Messaging and the Rise of Informal Communication
As official health guidance evolved—from initial uncertainty about transmission to the eventual emphasis on mask-wearing and social distancing—public communication faced significant challenges. Misinformation spread rapidly online, prompting the WHO to declare an “infodemic” in February 2020 WHO Statement on the COVID-19 Infodemic.
In response, health authorities began partnering with social media influencers and platforms to disseminate accurate information. TikTok launched its own public health hub in March 2020, featuring videos from doctors and experts TikTok Newsroom – COVID-19 Support Page Launch. At the same time, organic, user-generated content like the #onthisday trend played a role in normalizing preventive behaviors—such as handwashing or staying home—through relatability rather than top-down mandates.
Experts in health communication have since noted that platforms like TikTok allowed for a more nuanced public discourse during the pandemic. Dr. Seema Yasmin, director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, observed in a 2021 interview that “humor and shared cultural moments on social media helped bridge gaps in understanding, especially when official messaging felt distant or confusing” Stanford Medicine – Humor and Health Communication During COVID.
The Legacy of Pandemic-Era Social Media Trends
More than three years later, the social media artifacts of early 2020 remain a valuable cultural record. Archivists at institutions like the Library of Congress and the Internet Archive have begun collecting TikTok videos, tweets, and memes as part of the historical documentation of the pandemic Library of Congress – Collecting the Coronavirus Pandemic.
These digital traces offer insight not only into how people coped but also into how societal behaviors shifted in real time. The #onthisday trend, for instance, reflects a human tendency to seek continuity and meaning during disruption—using the past to make sense of the present. In the case of April 19, 2020, that meant looking back not just at personal memories but at a world that now felt impossibly distant.
Today, as COVID-19 transitions into an endemic phase in many regions, reflecting on these moments serves a dual purpose: honoring the resilience and creativity displayed during dark times, while also reminding us of the importance of preparedness, clear communication, and community solidarity in future public health crises.
For those interested in exploring verified information about the pandemic’s timeline, public health responses, or mental health resources, authoritative sources include the WHO’s COVID-19 dashboard, the CDC’s historical data pages, and peer-reviewed journals like The Lancet and JAMA.
What memories or moments from the early days of the pandemic stand out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and if this piece resonated, consider sharing it with others who might appreciate a reflective look back at how we navigated one of the most unusual periods in recent history.