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There has been an increase in concern about social media platforms — their influence and how they can spread disinformation. But privacy issues also continue to be a major factor when you are deciding which social media site to spend hours of time on. You’ve probably already heard all about the way Facebook sells users’ data to advertisers, which has raised plenty of eyebrows. But there’s another social media platform that is rising up the ranks to become one to strongly consider deleting. Tech Expert Caroline Lee, co-founder of CocoSign, spoke with SHEFinds.com about the one social media app you should delete from your phone immediately (and it’s not Facebook).
One of the most problematic things about TikTok, according to Lee, is that it doesn’t take users’ privacy concerns into consideration. “According to an article published in the MIT Technology Review, experts fear that data from young adults, including children, may be handed over to the Chinese Communist Party,” Lee says. Previously called Musical.ly, the app was purchased by the Chinese company ByteDance in 2017 and several U.S. government officials have called for an investigation into how the data it collects is used.
Another factor about TikTok that users should be aware of is that it can be discriminating in the types of content it allows you to post. “At the end of last year, TikTok revealed that it had suppressed videos from overweight, disabled, and LGBT content creators,” Lee says. The justification behind the Platform's actions is a new initiative intended to stop cyberbullying ‘vulnerable’ users.”
The policy classified individuals with autism, disfigurement, Down syndrome, and even people with "facial problems," such as a slight squint or birthmark, as vulnerable users, according to Lee. “Moderators are more likely to remove videos from users with the features mentioned above,” Lee says. Depending on your views, you may see this as a positive move intended to curb cyberbullying or as troubling because it suppresses the voices of people who do not meet TikTok’s arbitrary standards of acceptability.
As with all social media platforms, the response you get to videos that you post can create negative feelings that disrupt your day and your life. “The more users the website has, the more likely it is to receive negative feedback,” Lee says. “Similarly, the content creators of TikTok receive a lot of backlashes and negative feedback often. When they read it, they feel worried and uncertain. Negative remarks may have a significant effect on one's self-esteem, self-confidence and even result in self-harm.”
TikTok can seem like harmless fun. But, if you’re trying to cut down on the amount of social media you engage with, it’s a good one to consider deleting.
