During the past decade, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have become the preferred way for people to communicate. While these sites have facilitated many positive interactions between people, they also have the potential to be highly dangerous.
Despite its relative newness, TikTok has quickly become a big concern. Despite its claims that it does not collect as much data as other social networks, it has been under heavy scrutiny. The company has also faced lawsuits from several countries, including Britain, that accuse it of violating the privacy rights of minors.
Earlier this month, TikTok announced a new plan to limit its data sharing practices. Under this plan, it would stop sharing data about users’ activities and preferences with its parent company.
TikTok also said it would stop making partisan ads on its platform. This move is designed to combat divisive content. The plan was supported by the Biden administration. However, some lawmakers have already voiced concerns.
The plan may not address the most significant risks posed by TikTok. The Chinese government could easily collect data from users, which could then be used for propaganda.
Some researchers have warned that TikTok could use its algorithm to increase the exposure of divisive content. The company also has its own special etiquette rules.
While TikTok has been accused of harvesting data and of using it to manipulate the public’s perception of political issues, it has also defended its data collection practices. It has argued that Americans’ data is not subject to Chinese laws, and that it is not being stored on Chinese servers. The company has also argued that the information it collects is not more private than that collected by other social media sites.
TikTok also shares data-gathering practices with Facebook and Instagram. Both companies have recently transitioned away from text-based posts toward algorithmic recommendations of content.
The Biden administration has vowed to assess TikTok risks in a “decisive and effective” fashion. It has also pledged to conduct a new security review in June 2021.
Touted as a social media juggernaut, TikTok isn’t a bad name to have. It is the best of the best and has amassed more than 1 billion users and counting. A recent study deemed it a worthy competitor to Facebook in the social media space.
The TikTok triumph has a few thorns in its side. In fact, there have been a few high profile thefts of its users’ data, such as those of celebrities, politicians and the occasional koala. Luckily, the company has been able to avert the neophyte nasties thanks to a good amount of user oversight and a bit of elbow grease. TikTok’s mobile platform is akin to a tamer version of Facebook, albeit without the kinks. TikTok’s mobile app boasts one of the most extensive mobile security programs in the industry, which is impressive considering that the company operates in the United States, China and Japan. The company reportedly employs a team of more than 50 full time employees, which is a lot for any company, let alone a startup.
TikTok has a notable stumbling block in the form of ad hominets, but the company has managed to patch the issue with a suite of security tools that is agnostic to user input. This includes a nifty nanny to guard against malicious or unintentional data breaches. The company also has a suite of ad blocking tools that is unrivaled in the social media space. Moreover, the company’s mobile app boasts a slick, albeit, ad-free user experience that is as user friendly as a desktop app.
Snapchat
Despite its popularity among young users, Snapchat is also considered to be a dangerous application. It is a messaging app that allows users to send and receive video messages. The company also allows users to create and share visual content, as well as textual messages. It is also a social networking application that allows users to share their locations with their friends.
Snapchat also has a feature called Snap Map. It allows users to share their location in real time. It is also possible to create lenses and stickers.
In December 2020, Snapchat had 260 million active users. Its popularity among teens grew rapidly in recent months. It has been touted as the next big thing in social media. It has also been subject to extensive media coverage. It is reportedly inching closer to two billion downloads worldwide. It was also the subject of a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general who urged the company to give parents the ability to monitor and protect their children from social media and other online dangers.
The company claims it has the lowest data collection rate of any social platform, though some argue it collects more data than its rivals. It collects user data based on phone model and OS, as well as contact lists and location data.
Unlike other social media platforms, it does not allow parents to monitor the location of their children’s accounts. This makes it difficult to stop harassing messages or images from being sent to them.
The app has also been infiltrated by creepy adult users. According to Justine Pardoen, an internet safety expert, online grooming, or the production of child pornography, is the most dangerous activity on the site.
Twitter
Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t ignore the fact that TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the world. It’s used by more than one billion people. However, the social media platform has raised eyebrows over data collection and misinformation.
The US Department of Defense has warned military personnel to remove TikTok from their devices, and some private companies have banned the use of the platform. However, TikTok claims to collect less data than other social networks. It also claims that “questionable content” won’t be amplified by recommendations. This means that you won’t see content aimed at the US government.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has been accused of censoring videos that are unfavorable to the Chinese government, or are sensitive to investors. TikTok’s algorithm has also been accused of recommending content that isn’t accurate. TikTok claims it is a tool to disrupt malicious actors.
TikTok has not released details on how it identifies election-related misinformation. It has also said it is not collecting user information for political advertising. Despite these claims, the platform has faced international scrutiny over its ability to remove election-related misinformation.
While the social media platform has taken steps to address some of its privacy concerns, there’s still much to be done. Some policy lords want part of TikTok to be sold to an American company, while others want the platform to store American user data domestically.
TikTok isn’t safe for users to use. The platform doesn’t have two-factor authentication. It stores passwords on external servers, which could put online accounts at risk of credential theft.
While the TikTok algorithm may be capable of recommending content to users, the platform does not provide a way for users to filter the content they see. Users don’t know what they’re seeing, and they don’t know whether they’re watching a propaganda operation or just an innocent video of a cute dance.
Russia
During the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian state groups are attempting to divide the Western public by creating a vast array of fake social media accounts to promote disinformation. But is it possible for Russians to use social media to get around state censorship?
The Russian government has been using repressive measures to quell dissent and protect its leadership class from a revolution. President Vladimir Putin has worked to repress potential threats and marginalize opposition activists.
The Kremlin has delegated primary responsibility for repression to the security agencies. It has shut down media outlets that criticized the government. It has also arrested a number of leading dissidents.
Russians have also been using social media to document the protests. Anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny has been imprisoned a number of times. TikTokers have also created videos to support him and document economic sanctions.
The Kremlin says its actions in Ukraine are part of a “peacekeeping mission” and have described the invasion as a “special military operation.” But experts say the country’s invasion was a strategic blunder.
As part of its efforts to repress dissent, the Russian government has introduced emergency measures to penalize the spreading of “fake” information. It has threatened to impose fines on IT companies if they violate harsh new laws.
The Kremlin’s efforts to repress dissent are part of its larger strategy to destabilize the Western alliance. In addition, the Russian government has seeded its military with counterintelligence officers. Putin has been preparing for a revolution for years, and has put in place repressive barriers to prevent it.
Experts say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raised the risk of a revolution. But mass protests may not be enough to break the security establishment apart.