TikTok Ban: What You Need to Know
Is TikTok soon to be banned in the U.S.? This conversation has been ongoing for the last three years. Until recently, it seemed like a full ban on TikTok would never happen. However, things are starting to look promising for those in favor of shutting down the app in the U.S. for good.
Here's what you need to know...
TikTok has been dubbed a "threat to national security" in the United States.
The Trump Administration was the first to call out TikTok and tried to ban the app completely in 2020.
The Biden Administration shut down those plans but in 2022, they followed suit and signed an executive order to ban the app from government-issued devices and some college campuses in December 2022.
Why do they want to ban TikTok?
After a Buzzfeed journalist obtained leaked audio from 80 internal TiktTok meetings, ByteDance (the owner of TikTok) admitted that four of its employees accessed this journalist's personal data. This includes her IP address which ultimately led to her home address. The company said they have fired those employees.
They also "tracked" many other American journalists from reputable publications who were writing stories about the app.
The U.S. government is concerned that TikTok can cause millions of Americans to have their personal data in the hands of a foreign country. This can lead to the spreading of misinformation and propaganda.
Hold on...didn't Facebook do this, too?
Yep! They sure did. Facebook's action (or non-action) heavily influenced the 2016 election amongst many other elections across the globe by spreading false information and propaganda through paid advertising.
Should we care?
Yes. Any time our personal data is being used without our full consent we should care.
Should I quit using TikTok?
It depends. I believe this is a personal decision only you can make.
What you should do is nurture your relationships with followers on other social media platforms (you should have been doing this anyway frfr).
Bottom line...
If you've ever used the internet, you have a digital footprint whether you like it or not. As always you should be mindful of what you post online and read the privacy policies of the platforms you're using.
Social media should NOT be the only time you engage with your customers. You should have other marketing efforts in place.
Do you plan to stop using TikTok?
I personally will continue to use the app for fun. However, I have no current plans of implementing a TikTok strategy with any of my clients.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23, 2023. He is expected to be asked questions about consumer privacy, data security, and TikTok’s “relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.”
I plan to keep my eyes on this and if you're a TikTok user, you should, too!
Sources:
How TikTok Became a Matter of National Security: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/podcasts/the-daily/how-tiktok-became-a-matter-of-national-security.html
Leaked Audio From 80 Internal TikTok Meetings Shows That US User Data Has Been Repeatedly Accessed From China: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emilybakerwhite/tiktok-tapes-us-user-data-china-bytedance-access
Will TikTok Be Banned From The U.S.? Here's Where It Stands. - https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/02/07/will-tiktok-be-banned-from-the-us-heres-where-it-stands/?sh=53eddb853d2b
