Is TikTok Safe? Privacy Concerns, Scams & Threat for Kids in 2024

In a relatively short time, TikTok has become one of the world’s most dominant social media apps. According to Pew Research, 33% of adults in the U.S. say they use the app. But is TikTok safe?

While it’s one of the most popular apps among younger demographics like millennials and Gen Z, TikTok has also come under fire due to everything, from controversial data-sharing policies to its connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and even the presence of cyberbullying and phishing scams on the platform.

Below, we will look at whether TikTok is safe and what measures users can take to protect their data when using the platform.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Data Collection & Privacy Concerns: Does TikTok Share Your Data With China?
3. A Brief Look at TikTok Scams
4. Is TikTok Safe for Kids?
5. How to Protect Yourself & Your Family On TikTok: 7 Safety Tips
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Data Collection & Privacy Concerns: Does TikTok Share Your Data With China?
3. A Brief Look at TikTok Scams
Show Full Guide
4. Is TikTok Safe for Kids?
5. How to Protect Yourself & Your Family On TikTok: 7 Safety Tips
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Data Collection & Privacy Concerns: Does TikTok Share Your Data With China?

One of the most controversial elements of TikTok is the extensive amount of user data that it collects. The company’s privacy policy states that the app collects a range of data, including username, password, date of birth, email address, telephone number, uploads, comments, messages, payment card information, and phone contacts.

At the same time, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered in Beijing, which means it might be theoretically required to share data with Chinese intelligence services under the National Intelligence Law.

While both TikTok and ByteDance maintain that neither company has shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities, there have been reports that the CCP has used backdoor access to the app to monitor pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong.

These concerns have led to the U.S. government crackdown on the app, from banning its use by federal employees to actively trying to force ByteDance to sell the company by threatening to implement a national ban.

However, experts believe the ban might not even work as users can find other ways to access TikTok, which has an enormous fan base and 150 million active users in the U.S.

Shawn Loveland, Chief Operating Officer (CPO) at Resecurity, explained that bypassing a block is way too easy. He told Techopedia:

So, does TikTok steal your information? No, because technically, users agree to share their personal information.

However, it is fair to assume that there are legitimate TikTok privacy concerns and data has a realistic probability of being shared with a third party.

If you decide to sign up for the service, you should do so under the assumption that all of the information you used to sign up and your app activity might be shared with third parties.

According to TikTok’s privacy policy:

“If you choose to allow a third-party service to access your account, we will share certain information about you with the third party. Depending on the permissions you grant, the third party may be able to obtain your account information and other information you choose to provide.”

A Brief Look at TikTok Scams

Scams are another significant issue on TikTok, with fraudsters using a variety of schemes to try and steal user data and money.

Some of the TikTok scams that users should be aware of, according to TikTok’s Safety Center, are as follows:

Returns Scams

These scams promise users returns of free goods and services or digital currency to try and trick them into paying a fake administrative fee or to hand over their personal information.

@cathypedrayes

Return Fraud. This happens more than we realize and it’s costing retailers billions every year. (The $101 billion I mention in the video is the number from 2023.) #fraud #scam #tunagate #saks #returnfraud #retail #theft

? original sound – Cathy

Mobile Games Scams

Under these schemes fraudsters will offer in-game items for mobile games at a low cost to try and bait users into visiting a website or clicking on a malicious link.

Ponzi Schemes & Pyramid Schemes

An investment scam that generates financial returns for early investors at the expense of later investors.

@humphreytalks

Know your pyramid scheme: Ponzi Edition. #ponzi #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #psa

? original sound – Humphrey Yang

Phishing Scams

Social engineering scams try to trick users into handing over personal information, typically by forcing them to visit a phishing website or download a malicious attachment.

Is TikTok Safe for Kids?

What about the youngest and most vulnerable part of TikTok user base? Is TikTok safe for kids? After all, there are a number of factors to consider if your children are currently using the platform.

According to Pew Research, 58% of teens are daily users of TikTok. 17% of them describe their TikTok use as almost constant.

While having a TikTok account can be a good way for friends to follow each other, it can also open the door to cyberbullying, harassment, online grooming, and all the usual scams.

Another factor to consider is the highly addictive nature of content on the platform.

TikTok’s algorithm is designed to provide personalized recommendations that keep users engaged.

In moderation, this can help to provide a more rewarding experience, but it can also lead to more addictive content consumption and problematic behaviors like doomscrolling.

@drclintsteele

Doomscrolling: What Is it and how is it damaging your brain? #alzheimers #dementia #drclintsteele #stressedbrainsyndrome #fyp #foryoupage #doomscrolling #dementiaawareness #dementiacare

? original sound – The Brain-Based Chiro

Whether or not all of these risks are acceptable is down for each parent to decide for themselves and their child.

If you decide to let your children use social media, the American Psychological Association recommends taking a number of steps to keep them safe, including:

In short, the best way to secure TikTok for kids is to talk to them about what content they’re consuming and monitor their usage habits.

How to Protect Yourself & Your Family On TikTok: 7 Safety Tips

There are several best practices you can use to protect yourself and your family on TikTok. Some of these include:

1. Select a Strong, Unique Password: Choose a strong unique password with a mixture of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and symbols.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Activate two-factor authentication so that if your password is stolen, a hacker won’t be able to log in.
3. Be Careful About What Information You Share: Be selective about what information you share in posts and messages.
4. Ignore Suspicious Messages: If someone asks you for personal information or for financial assistance, ignore them and block the sender.
5. Avoid Clicking on Links: Try to avoid clicking on links in posts and messages to reduce the chance of being directed to a phishing site.
6. Report Potential Scams: If you find a scam, report it to help TikTok get better at identifying scams and protecting other users.
7. Use Safety Settings: Use safety settings to limit the type of content that you’re exposed to.

The Bottom Line

Is TikTok dangerous? It has its risks, but they might be less fearsome if the app is used cautiously.

TikTok is like any other social media site in that you need to be careful to protect your data.

The truth is that no matter what social media sites you visit, you need to be prepared to encounter scams, fraudsters, and toxicity.

FAQs