The TikTok logo.

The popularity of vertical videos has been on the rise due to the intricacies that have emerged from them. It all started with Musical.ly in 2012, which later merged with TikTok in 2016, creating a world of fifteen-second videos that have been around for years. These apps have attracted over a billion users with a simple tactic of offering videos that are fifteen seconds or less. This format works well with the way TikTok has risen in popularity, captivating its users for hours as they scroll down their “For You” page. This trend has continued since the app’s popularity skyrocketed in 2020, following the rise of COVID-19.

TikTok has been the most popular social app in the world for a while, with over a billion users on the platform currently. The majority of them are not even Americans, and millions of videos are posted on the platform all the time, keeping people captivated. TikTok collects user information such as their name, username, password, phone number, and other social media information if the user logged in via another social media account. The “algorithm” effectively learns the user’s interests and stores this information to track their activity. TikTok also tracks users’ keystrokes patterns and has access to their contacts, such as phone numbers, names, and email addresses if permitted. By having TikTok on a device, users allow TikTok to access their approximate location, mobile device identifiers, and IP addresses. These practices have raised concerns about potential security risks. Another major problem is the overwhelming screen time that TikTok takes from teenagers.

The platform is currently banned for all government electronics, including senators’ personal phones. While there are no allegations that China is using the collected information for malicious purposes, lawmakers in Washington are proposing a bill that would restrict the use of TikTok across America. It’s a ban that’s been under review for years, and with it comes restrictions on the use of TikTok. This would have an impact on millions of people as it is one of the most popular social media. There were debates about how it would be banned and the ethics of deleting it. On the one hand, the ban poses significant security risks in the “land of the free,” and on the other, it raises concerns about potential violations of people’s First Amendment rights.

TikTok is still a topic of debate, with various arguments for and against it. Lawmakers struggle daily to decide whether it’s safe enough to have it in the country. Security risks are taken under consideration. That’s why it’s important to be aware of these constant privacy changes and stay alert and informed.

Works Cited

Hetrick, C. (2022, December 15). A breakdown of the data TikTok collects on American users. dot.LA. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://dot.la/what-data-does-tiktok-collect-2657689460.html?utm_campaign=post-teaser&utm_content=iak550ch

Lee, E. (2023, March 2). Tick-tock, Tiktok: As Biden sets deadline for ban of social media app, here’s what we know. USA Today. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/02/28/white-house-tiktok-bans-legislation-what-we-know/11364439002/