I don't think tiktok is any worse than any other software company in regards to data collectiom and sales - including google and apple (or facebook)- what I do think it that TikTok has had a MASSIVE effect on western instability by pouring gasoline on the fires of certain social movements. The acceptance and subsequent attempt of a youthful population to address many of the social issues affecting us has been HIGHLY influenced by tiktok. TikTok is a massively popular social media platform designed to deliver information in a visual context - I have learned more about the world and its issues (issues facing marginalized groups, mental health, ect) in two years on tiktok than I have my entire life as someone who is very passionate about social issues and history. I've learned stuff on reddit - but reddit is made up mostly of American white men - tiktok is mostly women and poc. It gives a different perspective when the majority of people using and communicating on the app are subject to certain forms of 'second class citizen' status. Tiktok is also a surprisingly tolerant place to post about these issues - while you definitely get some of the vitriol you can find on any social media site, the majority of people are helpful, supportive and empathetic (most likely due to its high female user base) - and has become an extremely attractive platform for starting social movements based on inclusiveness.

Tiktok is doing the thing that people in power never want those without power to do - communicate and share ideas.

So part of me does have to wonder - how much of the backlash over tiktok, especially from government sources, is really about its ability to destabilize using social disruption vs just as a data collection threat?

Are we really doing this again, where the thing that Women, POC and the LGBTQ community find enjoyable suddenly becomes evil?