TikTok: A Guide to the Popular Video-Sharing App
TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short-form videos, usually with music, filters, effects, and other features. It has become one of the most downloaded apps in the world, with more than 3.5 billion downloads and 800 million active users as of April 2020. TikTok is especially popular among young people, who use it for entertainment, education, expression, and social connection.
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But what makes TikTok so appealing and addictive? What are some of the features and benefits of using TikTok? And what are some of the security and privacy concerns that users and governments have about the app? In this article, we will explore these questions and more, as we provide a comprehensive guide to TikTok.
What are some of the features and benefits of using TikTok?
TikTok offers a variety of features that make it easy and fun to create and watch videos. Some of these features include:
Video uploading: Users can upload their own videos to the app or use pictures and clips from their gallery. They can also choose from millions of songs and sounds from TikTok's library or their own device.
Video editing: Users can crop, flip, rotate, speed up, slow down, reverse, or add transitions to their videos. They can also use filters, stickers, text, emojis, face masks, beauty effects, green screen, time warp scan, voice effects, duet, stitch, and other tools to enhance their videos.
Social sharing: Users can share their videos with their followers or the public on TikTok or other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc. They can also like, comment, follow, message, live stream, or join challenges with other users.
Content discovery: Users can discover new videos based on their interests, preferences, location, or trends on two main pages: For You and Following. The For You page shows personalized recommendations from TikTok's algorithm based on user behavior. The Following page shows videos from users that one follows.
Some of the benefits of using TikTok are:
Creativity: TikTok allows users to express themselves creatively through various formats, genres, styles, and themes. Users can showcase their talents, skills, hobbies, passions, opinions, humor, emotions, stories, etc. through their videos.
Education: TikTok provides users with access to a wealth of information and knowledge on various topics such as science, history, art, culture, health, fitness, cooking, languages, etc. Users can learn new things or teach others through educational videos.
Entertainment: TikTok offers users endless entertainment options through its diverse and engaging content. Users can enjoy watching funny, cute, inspiring, thrilling, or surprising videos that suit their mood or taste.
Connection: TikTok enables users to connect with other people who share similar interests or backgrounds. Users can interact with their friends or family members through video chats or messages. They can also discover new friends or communities through hashtags or challenges.
What are some of the security and privacy concerns about TikTok?
Despite its popularity and benefits, Despite its popularity and benefits, TikTok has also faced some security and privacy concerns from users and governments. Some of these concerns include:
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How does TikTok collect and use user data?
TikTok collects a lot of data from its users, such as their names, email addresses, phone numbers, locations, device information, browsing history, contacts, messages, photos, videos, sounds, and more. TikTok says it uses this data to provide and improve its services, personalize content and ads, measure performance, protect security, and comply with legal obligations. However, some users and experts have questioned how TikTok handles this data and whether it respects user privacy and consent.
For example, in 2019, TikTok was fined $5.7 million by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires parental consent for collecting personal information from children under 13. TikTok agreed to delete the data of underage users and implement age verification measures. In 2020, TikTok was sued by a group of parents in Illinois for allegedly collecting biometric data of minors without consent. TikTok denied the allegations and settled the case for $92 million in 2021.
How does TikTok's parent company ByteDance relate to the Chinese government?
Another major concern about TikTok is its relationship with its parent company ByteDance, which is based in China. Some critics have accused ByteDance of having close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and being subject to Chinese laws that could compel it to share user data with the Chinese government or censor content that is deemed sensitive or critical of the regime. These accusations have sparked fears that TikTok could pose a national security threat or a propaganda tool for China.
TikTok has repeatedly denied these accusations and claimed that it operates independently from ByteDance and that it stores its U.S. user data in servers located in the U.S. and Singapore, not in China. TikTok also said that it has never received or complied with any request from the Chinese government to access or remove user data or content. However, some experts have argued that TikTok's assurances are not enough to guarantee its autonomy or transparency, and that there is no clear legal or technical barrier that would prevent ByteDance from accessing or transferring TikTok's data if pressured by the Chinese authorities.
How does TikTok respond to these allegations and what measures does it take to protect user data and content?
TikTok has taken several steps to address these allegations and to reassure its users and regulators that it is committed to protecting user data and content. Some of these steps include:
Hiring new leadership: In 2020, TikTok hired Kevin Mayer, a former Disney executive, as its new CEO and Vanessa Pappas, a former YouTube executive, as its new general manager for the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Mayer resigned after three months amid the U.S. government's pressure to ban or sell TikTok, but Pappas remained as the interim global head of TikTok until Shou Zi Chew, a former Xiaomi executive, was appointed as the new CEO in 2021. TikTok also hired Roland Cloutier, a former ADP executive, as its new chief information security officer in 2020.
Launching a transparency center: In 2020, TikTok opened a transparency center in Los Angeles, where it invited outside experts and observers to review its content moderation policies and practices, as well as its data security and privacy measures. TikTok also publishes regular transparency reports on its website, where it discloses the number and nature of government requests for user data or content removal that it receives and how it responds to them.
Implementing new policies and features: In 2020 and 2021, TikTok updated its community guidelines and terms of service to clarify its rules on content moderation and data collection . It also introduced new features such as parental controls, age verification, privacy settings, safety tips, anti-bullying tools, and educational resources to help users manage their online safety and well-being .
What are some of the legal and regulatory challenges that TikTok faces in different countries?
Besides the security and privacy concerns, TikTok also faces some legal and regulatory challenges in different countries, where it has to comply with local laws and regulations that may affect its operations and growth. Some of these challenges include:
Which countries have banned or restricted TikTok and why?
Some countries have banned or restricted TikTok either temporarily or permanently, citing various reasons such as national security, data protection, content regulation, or geopolitical tensions. Some of these countries are:
Country
Status
Reason
India
Banned since June 2020
India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps after a border clash between the two countries. India accused the apps of being "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order" .
U.S.
Restricted since August 2020
The U.S. government issued an executive order to ban TikTok unless it was sold to a U.S. company, alleging that TikTok posed a threat to national security and foreign policy. The order was challenged by TikTok in court and was blocked by several judges. The Biden administration has put the order on hold and is reviewing the situation .
Pakistan
Banned twice in 2020, restored in 2021
Pakistan banned TikTok twice in 2020 for failing to remove "immoral and indecent" content that violated its Islamic values and social norms. The bans were lifted after TikTok agreed to moderate its content according to local laws and culture .
Bangladesh
Banned since February 2019
Bangladesh banned TikTok as part of a crackdown on pornography and gambling apps. The ban was also motivated by concerns over cyberbullying, harassment, and radicalization of young people .
Indonesia
Banned for a week in July 2018, restored later
Indonesia banned TikTok for a week for containing "pornography, inappropriate content and blasphemy". The ban was lifted after TikTok agreed to remove the offending content and open an office in Indonesia .
How does TikTok comply with local laws and regulations in different markets?
TikTok tries to comply with local laws and regulations in different markets by adapting its policies and practices to suit the local context. Some of the ways that TikTok does this are:
Establishing regional offices and teams: TikTok has established regional offices and teams in various countries, such as the U.S., India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, etc., to manage its operations and relations with local authorities, partners, and users. These teams are responsible for implementing local policies, guidelines, standards, and laws on content moderation, data protection, user safety, etc.
Partnering with local organizations and experts: TikTok partners with local organizations and experts to gain insights and feedback on its products and services. For example, TikTok has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the U.S., the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in the U.K., the Australian eSafety Commissioner, etc., to combat child abuse and exploitation online . TikTok also consults with local academics, researchers, civil society groups, industry associations, etc., to understand the local culture, trends, issues, and best practices.
Supporting local initiatives and causes: TikTok supports local initiatives and causes that align with its mission and values. For example, TikTok has supported the World Health Organization (WHO) in raising awareness and providing information on COVID-19 prevention . TikTok has also supported various social movements such as Black Lives Matter , Stop Asian Hate , Pride Month , etc., by promoting hashtags, challenges, campaigns, donations, etc.
How does TikTok deal with content moderation and misinformation issues on its platform?
TikTok faces some challenges in dealing with content moderation and misinformation issues on its platform, as it has to balance between promoting freedom of expression and preventing harmful or illegal content. Some of the ways that TikTok deals with TikTok offers a variety of features and benefits for users, such as creativity, education, entertainment, and connection. However, TikTok also faces some security and privacy concerns, such as data collection and use, ByteDance's relationship with the Chinese government, and content moderation and misinformation issues. TikTok has taken several steps to address these concerns and to comply with local laws and regulations in different countries. TikTok also has some future prospects and opportunities to expand into new markets and segments, diversify its revenue streams and business models, and enhance its social impact and responsibility.
In conclusion, TikTok is a fascinating and influential social media platform that has revolutionized the way people create and consume video content. It has also raised some important questions and challenges for users, creators, regulators, and society at large. Therefore, it is important for anyone who wants to use TikTok to be aware of its features and benefits, as well as its risks and responsibilities.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about TikTok:
What is the difference between TikTok and Douyin?
TikTok and Douyin are both video-sharing apps owned by ByteDance, but they are different products that operate in different markets. TikTok is the international version of Douyin, which is only available in China. TikTok and Douyin have separate servers, content, features, policies, and user bases. However, they share some similarities in terms of design, functionality, and algorithm.
How does TikTok make money?
TikTok makes money mainly from advertising, which accounts for about 85% of its total revenue. TikTok sells various types of ads on its platform, such as in-feed ads, brand takeover ads, hashtag challenge ads, branded effects ads, etc. TikTok also makes money from other sources such as e-commerce, gaming, live streaming, subscriptions, tipping, etc., but these are still in the early stages of development.
How can I download TikTok videos?
TikTok allows users to download videos from its app or website, unless the video creator has disabled this option. To download a video from TikTok, you can follow these steps:
Open the TikTok app or website and find the video you want to download.
Tap or click on the share icon on the right side of the screen.
Select the download icon or the save video option from the menu.
The video will be saved to your device's gallery or camera roll.
Alternatively, you can use third-party apps or websites that allow you to download TikTok videos by copying and pasting the video URL. However, you should be careful about the security and legality of these tools.
How can I get more followers and likes on TikTok?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as different strategies may work for different users and creators. However, some general tips that may help you get more followers and likes on TikTok are:
Create original, high-quality, and engaging content that showcases your personality, skills, passions, opinions, etc.
Use popular songs, sounds, filters, effects, hashtags, Use popular songs, sounds, filters, effects, hashtags, challenges, trends, etc. that are relevant to your content and audience.
Interact with other users and creators by liking, commenting, following, messaging, dueting, stitching, etc.
Post regularly and consistently at optimal times when your audience is most active and engaged.
Analyze your performance and feedback using TikTok's analytics and insights tools, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Is TikTok safe for kids?
TikTok is rated 12+ on the App Store and 13+ on Google Play, which means it is not intended for children under these ages. However, some parents may allow their kids to use TikTok with supervision and guidance. TikTok has some features and options that can help parents and kids manage their online safety and well-being, such as:
Family Pairing: This feature allows parents to link their TikTok account to their kid's account and control some of their settings, such as screen time limit, restricted mode, direct messages, etc.
Restricted Mode: This feature allows users to filter out mature or inappropriate content that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Privacy Settings: This feature allows users to control who can view, comment, message, or duet with them. Users can also block or report content or accounts that they find offensive or harmful.
Safety Center: This feature provides users with resources and tips on how to use TikTok safely and responsibly. It also covers topics such as bullying prevention, mental health support, digital literacy, etc.
However, these features and options are not foolproof and may not prevent all risks or dangers that kids may encounter on TikTok. Therefore, it is important for parents and kids to communicate openly and honestly about their online activities and behaviors, and to educate themselves about the potential benefits and harms of using TikTok.
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