TikTok already collects vast amounts of data, including, amongst other things:
Personally identifiable information Key stroke patterns Location information based on SIM card and/or IP address App activity Browser and search history Biometric information (face and voice print)
Neurology experts are als worried about the negative effects of TikTok on people’s brains and mental health, especially considering the fact that many kids and teenagers are on the app. What does TikTok know about you? And how can you secure your account better? Read the full article to find out more! Although TikTok is wildly popular, with a global audience of 750 million monthly users, the app has also been a cause for concern. When it comes to privacy and security, many condemn the amount of data that gets collected via TikTok, as well as its potential ties to the Chinese government. On top of that, experts note that the app is especially harmful to younger users. After taking a close look at TikTok, we have to say that the privacy risks and security concerns are considerable. Below, we elaborate on the most recent findings and give you tips on mitigating TikTok’s risks.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a popular social media app based in China that’s grown immensely in popularity over the last couple of years. On the app, creators can use a ton of sound effects, filters, and music to record short clips. User content ranges from DIY and craft videos to sketches and dance routines. To discover new content, users can follow specific creators and use hashtags. Since videos can only be between 15 and 60 seconds long, entertainment and engagement are both optimized — which is part of the reason that TikTok is so popular. In the United States alone, TikTok currently has close to 95 million users. By 2025, TikTok is expected to have an audience of 103 million U.S. users, which means roughly one in three Americans will have a TikTok account. TikTok is the first Chinese social media app to do this well. Since the release of the app, however, there have been concerns about privacy and users’ data, especially considering the fact that teenagers make up a large part of TikTok’s user base.
Why is TikTok so addictive?
For one thing, TikTok combines the best elements of apps that have gone viral before it, like Vine and Musical.ly. On top of that, many celebrities have joined the platform to promote their content and engage their fanbase. Music artists like BTS, Billie Eilish, and Selena Gomez are among the TikTok accounts with the most followers. Joining them are movie stars Will Smith and The Rock, not to mention influencers like Addison Rae, MrBeast, and Kylie Jenner. The main drive behind TikTok’s popularity, though, is the fact that the app has mastered the art of personalized content. Artificial intelligence algorithms determine the recommendations you get to see on the “For You” page, ever feeding you content you like. On top of that, the infinite scroll incentivizes you to stay on the app as long as possible. While this has led critics to emphasize the negative effects on users’ attention spans, there are more problems at hand. Over the course of the past year, a growing number of U.S. lawmakers and officials have begun speaking up about TikTok, both when it comes to data collection as well as its potential ties to the Chinese government.
Is TikTok a Spy App from China?
In April 2022, TikTok announced an update to its privacy policy that would give Chinese employees access to data belonging to TikTok’s European users. The announcement put fuel in the fire of fears about TikTok being an instrument of the Chinese Communist Party. Considering the high levels of government censorship and surveillance in China, many people worry that ByteDance might be collecting data from TikTok users and passing it on to the Chinese government. To a certain extent, these concerns are fueled by xenophobia and anti-China sentiment. After all, the United States government itself is one of the worst offenders in the world when it comes to obtaining user data. However, the United States has several safeguards and laws in place that somewhat limit the government’s influence. China doesn’t have such safeguards. Since it’s very difficult to get around the Great Firewall of China, independent privacy watchdogs are pretty much non-existent in China. Therefore, it’s important to take privacy concerns about TikTok seriously. Let’s see what’s at stake.
Hacker group Anonymous: “TikTok is spyware”
In 2020, hacker group Anonymous suggested TikTok was primarily developed to function as spyware for the Chinese government, just as Instagram or Facebook function as spyware for the U.S. government. See tweet below. Additionally, Anonymous has published a video listing the dangers of TikTok. “Calling it an advertising platform is an understatement,” the group said. “TikTok is essentially malware that is targeting children.” It seems that the United States government has a vested interest in keeping a Chinese app like TikTok at bay. Earlier this year, nine Republican U.S. senators signed a letter addressing concerns about TikTok’s collection of user data. Government officials have expressed that user data might be used to craft misinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing the U.S. government. It’s for this reason that TikTok has also been banned on any government-issued device. But how realistic is this assumption?
Does TikTok spy on you?
While TikTok is certainly not a safe app to use, it must be noted that there is a lot of political sensationalism and fear-mongering at play with the claims of these senators. According to The New York Times, there has been no evidence that supports the claim that Chinese intelligence services have intercepted and weaponized TikTok data at any point. Moreover, it’s not just TikTok that’s the problem. Any third-party services that receive American user data from any social media platform pose a threat. The role Facebook played in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. election cycles is a clear example of this. The American position on the platform is likely influenced by the threat TikTok poses to U.S.-based technology companies. The fact of the matter is that, for all the anti-TikTok rhetoric that exists, there is no solid proof that Chinese authorities have developed TikTok spyware.
Does TikTok exchange data with other companies and governments?
One of the main reason experts are so concerned about TikTok is the possible data exchange with other countries and businesses. Indeed, upon closer inspection of TikTok’s privacy policy, the risk becomes clear. With regard to third-party access, TikTok states the following: “If you choose to allow a third-party service to access your account, we will share certain information about you with the third party.” What’s more, its policy says, “Depending on the permissions you grant, the third party may be able to obtain your account information and other information you choose to provide.” We asked investigative journalist and writer Maria Genova about her vision on TikTok. Genova says, “There’s a reason several countries have banned it. It’s unbelievable how much information an app like that pulls from your phone.” “If [TikTok] is downloaded massively [in a country], you can observe the entire population and draw conclusions from that,” she added. This brings us to the real issue with TikTok: the amount of data that gets collected is very large.
Data collection volume: The real problem with TikTok
In most ways, TikTok is as much a risk as other data-grabbing social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram. The real problem with TikTok is the volume of data it collects. The amount of data collected by TikTok is excessive, and the app’s default settings give it way more permissions than necessary. On top of that, it’s difficult to verify what exactly happens with user data and who has access to it. An investigative report by Forbes, for example, found that ByteDance planned to use TikTok to monitor the locations of specific American citizens. Again, TikTok is not the first company to do this — both Uber and Facebook have been accused of location tracking. Still, it begs the question: what data does TikTok collect, and how does this put you, as a user, at risk?
TikTok Privacy Concerns: What Personal Information Does TikTok Collect?
What data does TikTok collect? In 2021, ByteDance settled more than twenty data collection lawsuits for a total of $92 million. The app has been accused of collecting personal data on a large scale and selling it to advertisers. On multiple occasions, TikTok has been fined for illegally collecting data from minors. As a result of these lawsuits, TikTok now has a kids-only mode. To determine whether TikTok is an app you want to use, it’s important to note why TikTok collects information and what information it collects.
What does TikTok know about you?
Even if you don’t have an account, TikTok already collects data from you. The moment you open a link someone has sent you, anonymized data such as your device type, your IP address, what content you consume, and the last app you used before clicking the link, are collected. Though this information is anonymous, there is a lot that can be inferred from it. The next time you open a TikTok link, for example, the algorithm will serve you recommendations based on your previous watch history. The more content you consume, the easier it is to determine your age range, gender, and interests, even without a profile. Of course, as soon as you actually go ahead with creating an account, more data gets collected. TikTok’s privacy policy details this further. These are all the data that TikTok collects from its users:
Email address Phone number Date of birth Profile information, including photos and videos Device information, including keystroke patterns Location information based on SIM card and/or IP address App activity Phone contact list Browser and search history Any text, images, and video on your device’s clipboard, if you copy and paste something into the app Biometric information (face and voice print) Information from other social media accounts
On top of this, TikTok requests multiple permissions, such as camera and microphone access, but also detailed information about your location (via GPS) and data from other apps you use. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s very difficult to opt out of personalized advertisements on TikTok. While you are able to change this manually, the default settings make it challenging. Chances are you don’t even know it’s an option.
What happens to your data?
All social media platforms collect information. The risk with TikTok especially, experts emphasize, is that it remains unclear what exactly happens to your data, where it’s stored, and with whom TikTok does or doesn’t share user data. When talking about the purpose of collecting information, the TikTok privacy policy merely includes statements such as “improving the user experience.” In order to get a better insight into your TikTok data privacy, you may request your data directly from the company. This, however, won’t tell you where your data ends up. The problem, as experts have found, is that TikTok uses highly complex algorithms and certain technical measures to encode its activity, making it difficult for independent researchers to map the flow of data. TikTok claims that user data is only saved on servers in Singapore and the United States rather than on Chinese servers. Indeed, it has not been possible for fact-checkers to find any transmissions to other countries, such as China. However, the claim is not completely verifiable.
Should I Delete My TikTok Account? Risks to Consider
Knowing how much data TikTok collects, you might be considering getting rid of the app. At VPNOverview, we’re certainly cautious about the platform and don’t generally recommend you use it. Here’s why.
Data practices
Overall, TikTok collects way more data than it needs. Even for a social media app, it’s not necessary to know this much about its users. There’s a reason that certain countries such as India have banned the app completely. At the moment, TikTok is also banned in Russia, though there are clever workarounds. Privacy regulators from the EU are actively studying the TikTok privacy policy, and even Reddit’s co-founder harshly condemned TikTok’s practices. Critics rightly point out that TikTok’s privacy statement is purposefully vague and offers too many opportunities for privacy infringement.
Browser trackers
A social media app shouldn’t need to gain access to your browsing history. Research from a German data protection website has revealed that TikTok tracks all your activities on the internet. Unfortunately, this happens with a great disregard for privacy and enables TikTok to link data to user profiles in a very targeted way. The German researchers indicate, for example, that device identifiers such as IP addresses aren’t anonymized when TikTok uses Google Analytics, meaning your online behavior is directly linked to your IP address. An IP address, in turn, provides information about your location and, indirectly, about your identity. One of the best and safest ways to hide your IP address is by using a virtual private network (VPN), which we absolutely recommend for TikTok users. A VPN encrypts your data so that you can safely access the internet without the risk of data leaking through. On top of that, when you connect to a VPN server in a different country, your device takes on the IP of that VPN server and your real IP will be hidden. At the moment, the safest and most reliable VPN to use is NordVPN. If you want to compare VPNs, check out our current top 5 recommendations.
Mental health
Social media is known to be harmful to people’s mental health. Experts in the fields of neuro-psychology warn that apps like TikTok mess with the brain’s dopamine receptors and people’s attention spans. In the long term, this can lead to low performance at work or at school, as well as other mental health issues. TikTok’s infinite scroll feeds you new information all the time. As a result, heavy social media users have to exert more effort to remain focused. You might also experience memory deficits. Finally, social media is designed to be addictive. Young people, in particular, can struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety as a result of excessive online interaction and overstimulation.
Is TikTok Safe for Kids?
If you have young children, you might be wondering: is TikTok dangerous to use? TikTok’s user base mostly consists of adolescents, which many consider a vulnerable group. While the app provides tons of entertainment, certain TikTok dangers are risky for kids and teenagers.
The kids-only version is not 100% foolproof. Considering the number of videos on TikTok, inappropriate content can easily slip through the moderation filters. Exposure to online predators. TikTok has been accused of not doing enough to protect children from online predators on the app. Any app that has an audience largely consisting of youths will attract predators looking to take advantage. Cyberbullying is common. As on Instagram or Facebook, popularity drives the TikTok experience. The more likes, followers, and comments a TikTok video gets, the more kids (and teenagers, especially) will feel validated. Unfortunately, not getting this recognition can be painful. On top of that, cyber bullies and troll accounts often harass other users. Poor privacy regulations. TikTok’s data issues affect children in a negative way. In the United Kingdom, TikTok was sued for collecting children’s personal information. Vulnerability to cyber crime. There are countless attempts at fraud on TikTok. Among other things, kids are at risk of identity theft.
If you’re a parent who worries about the online safety of their child, you can always consult our guide for protecting your child on the internet.
How to Make Your TikTok Profile More Secure
As has become clear, TikTok is not a safe app to use. It collects vast amounts of unnecessary data and allows the company access to your browsing history. There are, however, certain steps you can take to make your account safer.
Anonymize yourself
The first thing to do is create a TikTok account that doesn’t immediately reveal your identity. You can use a secondary anonymized email address and remove personally identifiable information wherever you can. Using a fake name and birth date, for example, will make it less likely that you’ll become a victim of identity theft. On top of that, it’s important to not link TikTok to other social media accounts. The more information TikTok can use to build up your profile, the more the app will infringe upon your privacy.
Set your account to private
Setting your account to private will allow you to determine who gets to see your content. This can greatly improve your online security if you’re not yet ready to delete TikTok. To make your account private, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the TikTok app, select Privacy and Safety, and toggle on Private account.
Limit who can see your account
There are a few ways to do this. Under Privacy and Safety:
Toggle off the “Suggest your accounts to others“ Toggle off the “Find your contacts“ Filter “Who can send you direct messages” to Friends
Don’t let others download your videos
You can change this setting by going to the Privacy and Safety menu in your account and toggling off “Allow others to download my videos.” This will prevent people from storing your videos elsewhere without your permission. It’s important to keep in mind that the more you use TikTok, the more data the app will gather. Despite the fact that changing these settings will make your account more secure, it’s inevitable that TikTok collects data. Certain private information will be gathered, simply because of the way you use the app.
Final Thoughts: Be Cautious About Using TikTok
When it comes down to it, TikTok is not a privacy-conscious app. In certain ways, it’s more invasive than other social media platforms, though it’s important to keep in mind that all social media companies collect tons of private information that they can easily sell to unknown third parties and law enforcement agencies. On top of that, the allegation that TikTok is a spy app from China to gather intel on American citizens is unfounded. Though there are plenty of security issues and privacy scandals, there is no proof that the TikTok app is an extension of the Chinese government. If anything, a platform like Facebook would be just as much a threat to American citizens, if not more. However, this doesn’t mean that TikTok is without risks. These risks include excessive data collection, possible data sharing with third party platforms, exposure to cyber crime and online predators, and serious mental health consequences. If you’re going to keep your account, make sure you optimize the privacy settings to the best of your abilities. On top of that, we highly recommend using a good VPN. Since TikTok can easily access your location, either via IP address or GPS, using a VPN will keep you a lot safer online. It’s unclear what happens to all this data and who has access to it. More and more people are wondering whether TikTok might actually be a Chinese spyware app. While there is no proof that this is true, the app is pretty harmful in and of itself.
Your email address, phone number, date of birth, phone contacts, and any content on your profile Device information, including key stroke patterns Location information based on SIM card and/or IP address Browser and search history Biometric information (face and voice print)
It’s important to note that the more you use the app, the more personal information TikTok is able to infer, even if you don’t explicitly share it.
