TikTok has been at the forefront of countless rumors of privacy violations and security issues. It was banned in India, and by the US Army and Navy with accusations of national security threats.
But what about using it as an individual? Is TikTok dangerous for people who value privacy and security? Here are a few reasons why TikTok is bad.
Why Is TikTok Dangerous?
So, what is TikTok? It is a free app and social media platform that allows users to share short videos ranging anywhere from 15 to 60 seconds. Similar to most proprietary social media networks, TikTok collects user data and information.
Sure, it’s easy to accept some level of violation when using free services. However, TikTok is often accused of taking things too far, posing serious security and privacy risks to its users.
What Are the Dangers of TikTok?
Two questions remain: What are the dangers of TikTok for the average user, and why is TikTok (potentially) bad? Let’s dig in and find out.
1. TikTok Collects a Lot of Data
This might not bother you very much unless you’re a privacy enthusiast. Yet TikTok’s pursuit of data collection doesn’t stop at gathering your preferences by tracking what type of content you like and share on the app.
In its privacy policy, TikTok states that it collects “information you provide in the context of composing, sending, or receiving messages.” Focusing on the use of the word “composing,” TikTok doesn’t just collate data and messages you share using the app, but content you created or wrote but didn’t share.
TikTok also takes advantage of every access permission you give it, collecting information about your phone’s model, screen resolution, current OS, phone number, email address, location, and even contact list. What is TikTok but a data collection platform?
TikTok stores user data in the US and Singapore, but since it’s owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, they are required by law to submit user data if asked.
And while it’s important to note that there hasn’t been any clear-cut evidence of TikTok sharing data, at its core, TikTok is a ticking time bomb.
2. TikTok’s Littered With Security Vulnerabilities
Over the past few years, security researchers found multiple security vulnerabilities within the app. And since TikTok has access to a lot of personal information, it became the favorite route for many hackers.
One way hackers take advantage of TikTok is by sending users a text message that allows them to access their accounts.
Another is leveraging the fact that TikTok uses an insecure HTTP connection to deliver videos instead of the more secure option, HTTPS. This allows cybercriminals to manipulate users’ feeds and plant unsolicited content that could be misleading or disturbing, especially to young TikTok users.
3. Who Else Uses Data From TikTok?
TikTok is a video—and sometimes audio—sharing platform. That means, even if TikTok and ByteDance aren’t pulling user data, others can.
The hundreds of hours of video that individuals upload of themselves are a goldmine for artificial intelligence and machine learning development. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Why TikTok is bad comes down to its future dangers, as well as its present ones.
In their current state, facial recognition and deepfake algorithms don’t pose serious threats to everyday users. However, with this much high-quality data to use for training, the future could be bleak for individuals, too.
4. Long-Term Repercussions of TikTok
Using TikTok regularly, either as a consumer or content creator, increases your digital footprint. On its own, this poses great risks such as being more prone to phishing attacks and stalking. This is an important reason why you should care about your digital footprint.
But in the future, using TikTok could stand in the way of you working in your chosen field. Take, for example, ones that require a high degree of security, such as high-profile government occupations—they won’t be happy if a foreign country has access to highly-personal and detailed information about you.
Be Careful What You Share on TikTok
When it comes to privacy and security, TikTok is transparent with what data it collects. Still, when using an app or service, remember that privacy policies and security regulations could change at any moment, leaving your data exposed and your device vulnerable.
You should avoid over-trusting and over-sharing with apps that don’t value security and privacy from the get-go.
