About half of the nation’s TikTok users are worried that their personal data is being collected by the video-hosting social media platform with ties to China, results of a newly-released survey reveal.
According to a survey of 1,000 TikTok users, conducted April 27-May 3 by cybersecurity company Surfshark, 47% of users say they’re “concerned about my personal data being collected by TikTok.” Likewise, 50% say they have “adjusted my privacy settings to limit data collection” by TikTok.
As Surfshark notes, TikTok’s collection of user data has raised concerns about the threat posed to both personal privacy and national security:
“The potential privacy issues stemming from TikTok’s Chinese ownership have been a hot topic within the US government. Montana has already announced a state-wide TikTok ban starting in 2024.”
By age group, Millennial (age 27-42) TikTok users are the most likely to say they’re concerned (56%) about their privacy on the platform. They’re also the most likely (61%) to have adjusted their TikTok privacy settings to limit data collection.
Older and younger TikTok users are also concerned, just less so than Millennials. Here, 39% of Gen Z (age 11-26) and 40% of Gen X (age 43-58) say they’re worried about TikTok collecting their personal information.
The two age groups are also equally likely to have taken action to protect themselves, as 42% of Gen Z users and 41% of Gen X users say they have adjusted their privacy settings to limit TikTok’s collection of their data.
But, it’s not enough to just change privacy settings, social media users also need to be aware of who is collecting their data, Surfshark Spokeswoman Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske warns:
“In an era where numerous apps gather vast amounts of personal data, it becomes imperative to educate ourselves about the countries and companies behind these platforms.
“Being informed about the destination of our data is crucial for safeguarding privacy and making informed decisions about the apps we choose to engage with.”
As MRCTV reported last month, 84% of registered voters want the U.S. government to take action to address the privacy and security threats posed by the popular video-sharing app – up to, and including, banning the social media platform entirely.
More than a third (35%) of registered voters want the use of TikTok banned in the U.S. “on the grounds of privacy and security concerns,” according to a national Harvard-Harris poll, conducted May 17-18.
Another third (33%) of voters want TikTok banned, unless “the application undergoes regular security reviews of its code base,” while one in six say it should be allowed only if the app’s Chinese owners sell their stakes in it. Just 16% think the use of TikTok in the U.S. should continue to be allowed without any conditions.