Here’s what you need to know about TikTok’s dangerous reach in the US

June 3, 2023

By Kim Komando

Thanks to TikTok’s invasive spying and private data collection, the U.S. government has already started plans to ban it. Here’s what you need to know and how to protect your privacy from the Chinese spy app.

TikTok has over 100 million users in the U.S. alone, many of whom are children. Now, you can watch the videos without creating an account, but does that make you safe? Here’s what you need to know.

Think of the children

It’s not up for debate: TikTok gathers user data, such as browsing history, facial ID, voice prints, texts and location. It also is built from the ground up to be addictive, sharing quick videos catered to the interests of each user.

Then there are the viral “challenges” that can lead to injury or death. Ever heard of the choking or blackout challenge? It’s terrifying.

All these things are dangerous enough, and young people are especially vulnerable. As a parent, you have controls to restrict your kids from visiting certain websites or downloading certain apps. That’s all well and good, but it’s not enough.

The Wall Street Journal reports that children with TikTok accounts are sending screen recordings of videos to their friends who can’t access the app themselves. Kids are filling their phones with these video clips to the point where they can’t even update them.

RELATED: With TikTok, Biden & company misses the big picture

What about simply watching the videos?

You don’t need a TikTok account to enjoy the content, for better or worse. People with accounts can simply send you links. There’s no harm in that, is there? Well, that’s not entirely true.

You still share some information with TikTok when you watch it elsewhere, such as in your browser. According to Caitlin Fennessy, vice president and chief knowledge officer at the International Association of Privacy Professionals, your browser type, phone information and IP address are up for grabs.

TikTok videos are popular enough to be found on virtually every social media and video hosting platform, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. This is where it gets a bit tricky.

Someone can upload a video to another platform that isn’t connected to TikTok. It’s just a clip that exists on their Facebook profile. You’ll be able to interact with it as a Facebook user but not use the TikTok functions ordinarily present in a video.

A video could be uploaded to another platform and linked to the original source at TikTok. You’ll see some indication of that, and if you click the video, you’ll be taken to TikTok. In this case, some of your information will likely be collected.

Beyond the danger of the app itself, the platform is a hotbed of scams. Here’s how some grieving families lost something more irreplaceable than money.

Is anyone safe?

Let’s say you don’t have TikTok or even click on links to watch its content. You’re all good, right? Well, there’s this little thing called a pixel and it’s not what you think.

Big Tech companies like Meta, Microsoft and Google use pieces of code called pixels, which website developers add to their sites to track users.

TikTok is no exception, with pixels installed across retail, e-commerce, travel, tech and government sites. When you visit these sites, data such as your IP address, shopping cart contents and searches are collected.

Speaking to Consumer Reports, a TikTok spokesperson admitted that the company receives data from people who don’t have a TikTok account and uses it for “aggregated reports that they send to advertisers about their websites.”

There’s really no way to know which websites are using pixels. So, as always, be careful with any information you share and what links and ads you click.

What can you do about it?

You can’t completely control what pops up in front of you when browsing the web or social media, but you can control your clicks. Don’t open anything suspicious or tempting with some crazy headline. The 10 seconds of silliness is not worth the risk of giving up your data.

If you or a loved one has TikTok installed, remove it now. It’s never too late! Here’s how:

Remove TikTok from your iPhone

• Touch and hold the TikTok app.
• Tap Remove App.
• Tap Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm.

Remove TikTok from your Android phone

• Open the Google Play app.
• At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
• Tap Manage apps & devices and then Manage.
• Tap the TikTok app.
• Tap Uninstall.

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