TikTok
a seemingly fun app with not-so-fun ties to the CCP
The idea of TikTok is really fun. I had a TikTok account, I believe around the end of Musically/beginning of TikTok phase (anyone else remember that?). I hope it’s deleted. My point is, I get the appeal of TikTok. I sometimes watch TikTok videos when they’re posted elsewhere (it would probably be better if I didn’t, but I’m still a work in progress…and far from perfect!).
Perhaps the fun and appeal of the app is what makes the nefarious activity behind it all the more dangerous. The more research I’m doing for this post, the more I’m convinced that you should steer clear from it. And definitely keep your kids off it. I’ve been fairly anti-TikTok for awhile, but I kind of felt like people acting like it was super dangerous was a little over the top. I don’t know if I think it should be outright banned in the US — but I don’t know that it shouldn’t. And if you love the USA, I definitely think you should give it serious consideration before installing the app.
If for no other reason, you should be hesitant because TikTok/ByteDance is a member member of the World Economic Forum.
Here are some interesting things I found in the TikTok privacy policy (accessed 1/14/2023):
And here is a highlight of the “app privacy” as per the Apple app store (accessed January 2023):
Here’s what some others are saying about the app:
This Gettr post with Anna Paulina Luna talking about TikTok is worth a watch. I think it’s the first link I added to start this post!
Close to 6 minutes into this video, Mike Pompeo discusses the creepy tracking and storage of your info by TikTok, as well as their propaganda pushing. He also says that India has banned the app.
Here is Mike Pompeo’s TikTok article mentioned in the above video. It’s very interesting, and I highly recommend you give it a read. It’s not very long either.
Candace Owens mentions how different types of content are pushed in the American TikTok vs the Chinese TikTok in this video about attempted female impersonator Dylan Mulvaney. She also touches on the role TikTok’s algorithm played in skyrocketing this person’s reach. Really interesting.
When you read about the tracking and privacy invasion, you might think, “It’s no problem; I’ve got nothing to hide.” Remember, the CCP (which has a very strong arm over Chinese companies such as Zoom and TikTok’s owner ByteDance, does not have the most humane reputation (two examples to look into: Tiananmen Square, the Uyghurs).
Can you — or even should you — boycott every company you disagree with? You can think about that one. But now that you know this about TikTok, do you really want to support it, even if it is really fun? Do you want to allow an app like this into your personal life? At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, do you want to aid in your country’s demise? What about the destruction of children?
UPDATE: Here’s an interesting short video with Carrie Sheffield and Steve Bannon chatting about TikTok.