After its launch in 2017, video-sharing app TikTok has become one of the world’s most popular apps. Filling the cultural void left by the fall of Vine in 2016, it became beloved by teenagers all over the world almost overnight. Developed by Chinese company ByteDance, the app allows users to upload videos only a few seconds long. It has become an international sensation, being the second most downloaded app in the world in 2019 with over 700 million downloads.[1]
In 2019, it saw over 500 million active users monthly, and 1 billion video views daily.[2] Its revenue totaled $179.6 million USD in 2019 and despite a $5.7 million USD fine in February 2019 for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, it has had an almost non-stop increase in popularity since it was first released.[1] [3]
Still, TikTok isn’t all fun and games. The app naturally collects a great deal of data on its users, and its security systems are apparently full of holes. A Check Point report found that TikTok is vulnerable on many levels. Between being relatively new and untested, having a website from which researchers were able to extract user data, and an internal messaging system which can be exploited for phishing purposes, there are a variety of ways for TikTok users to be made vulnerable.[4]
This is of particular concern to the United States government. With ByteDance being Chinese-owned, the belief is that if the Chinese government were to ask for TikTok user data, it would be given over. This concern about government involvement in the collection of TikTok data has resulted in the US Military putting a ban on its use by service members. There have also been reports of TikTok censoring materials which may be construed as anti-China.[4] Of course, TikTok is just one example of many on the rise of Chinese A.I. initiatives which are gaining popularity worldwide, such as Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba.[5]
What does this mean? Well, it’s the same with any app. Be careful about what you post and with whom you communicate. Be selective about apps having access to your camera, microphone, and geotagging capabilities. If you can find the time, read the Terms of Service. Don’t share too much on the app. TikTok is really no more dangerous than any other app, but just bear in mind that that doesn’t mean it’s watertight, either.
[1] TikTok beats Facebook, Messenger in 2019 with over 700 million downloads | Digital Trends, 2020
[2] How TikTok, a new video-sharing platform, is changing the way we communicate | National Post, 2020
[3] TikTok hit with record fine for collecting data on children | CNN, 2019
[4] Major TikTok Security Flaws Found | New York Times, 2020
[5] Joe Rogan and former CIA agent say Tik Tok is actually a “cyber-threat.” | Dexerto, 2020
[6] A.I. in China: TikTok is just the beginning | Fortune, 2020
Other resources
- Your Data on Social Media | Digital Tattoo
- Data Mining |Digital Tattoo
- Preventing Screen Addition | Digital Tattoo
Written by Samantha Summers
Edited by
Feature image: Logo Tik Tok, Wikimedia Commons
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