Everything spys on us, not just tiktok. Yes, steps can be taken to lessen the spying, but in the end of the day we are just self censoring ourselves from other platforms.
Social media is here to stay and the masses use it as a way to get information/entertainment.
Making burner accounts are a thing, share information that goes against the status quo, I think that is admirable.
Only way people are exposed to certain viewpoints is by joining that bubble and going against the narrative.
In the end this gets complicated for various reasons, what do y’all suppose is the best course of action to go against the status quo?
TikTok is particularly problematic for a number of reasons.
Researchers showed that it collected images, videos, text history, contacts, etc. In fact, they noted that more of the program’s software was used for spyware than actually running the app itself.
It’s a military operation for a hostile foreign dictatorship.
TikTok also is not great for “expanding your bubble and seeing other viewpoints” because it’s heavily monitored and filtered. Recently users reported getting permanently banned for speaking out about the ongoing Gaza Strip genocide, though TBH that was probably just the algorithm picking up on the word Genocide and shutting them down just in case they were talking about China.
Don’t get me wrong, though! Fuck Google and Facebook/Meta, never give them any of your data either. But at least they wouldn’t profit from the complete destruction of western civilization.
It’s a big pile of spyware, you gain absolutely no benefit from it and it weakens our entire society to a huge external threat. The basic permissions are not enough to keep you safe while using that app, which is why it is banned by many countries for civilians or military personnel.
This is true, and it’s not one or the other. We can try to do the best we can to protect our privacy and also improve it further (with new tools, practices etc.)
I would rather that good people don’t completely abandon the platforms where so many people are. Both to share positive messages and promote good things, but also because good people deserve those social connections too.
I saw this page a while back and it’s something we don’t talk about enough in privacy discussions: https://www.socialcooling.com/
I also don’t like when the only advice given is “uninstall and delete your account, you deserve it otherwise”. We can do better
My advice for tiktok:
promote other platforms to people
see how much you can do from the mobile site (they limit it intentionally)
If you really have to install it, check out Shelter to sandbox the app away. It will still track a lot, but it will be somewhat boxed away
Everything spys on us, not just tiktok. Yes, steps can be taken to lessen the spying, but in the end of the day we are just self censoring ourselves from other platforms.
Social media is here to stay and the masses use it as a way to get information/entertainment.
Making burner accounts are a thing, share information that goes against the status quo, I think that is admirable.
Only way people are exposed to certain viewpoints is by joining that bubble and going against the narrative.
In the end this gets complicated for various reasons, what do y’all suppose is the best course of action to go against the status quo?
TikTok is particularly problematic for a number of reasons.
Researchers showed that it collected images, videos, text history, contacts, etc. In fact, they noted that more of the program’s software was used for spyware than actually running the app itself.
It’s a military operation for a hostile foreign dictatorship.
TikTok also is not great for “expanding your bubble and seeing other viewpoints” because it’s heavily monitored and filtered. Recently users reported getting permanently banned for speaking out about the ongoing Gaza Strip genocide, though TBH that was probably just the algorithm picking up on the word Genocide and shutting them down just in case they were talking about China.
Don’t get me wrong, though! Fuck Google and Facebook/Meta, never give them any of your data either. But at least they wouldn’t profit from the complete destruction of western civilization.
Just don’t give them access to your texts, contacts and photos? Like with any app that requests permissions it doesn’t need.
It’s a big pile of spyware, you gain absolutely no benefit from it and it weakens our entire society to a huge external threat. The basic permissions are not enough to keep you safe while using that app, which is why it is banned by many countries for civilians or military personnel.
Before this comment gets downvoted
This is true, and it’s not one or the other. We can try to do the best we can to protect our privacy and also improve it further (with new tools, practices etc.)
I would rather that good people don’t completely abandon the platforms where so many people are. Both to share positive messages and promote good things, but also because good people deserve those social connections too.
I saw this page a while back and it’s something we don’t talk about enough in privacy discussions: https://www.socialcooling.com/
I also don’t like when the only advice given is “uninstall and delete your account, you deserve it otherwise”. We can do better
My advice for tiktok: