TikTok is worse than you think. But no, it shouldn't be banned.
TikTok collects a staggering amount of data. Only recently, with the U.S. government moving to ban the app, have many begun to grasp the extent of its invasiveness. Beyond tracking what you watch and interact with, TikTok monitors every tap, keystroke, and interaction within its in-app browser.
Last year, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act required ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. Here’s the reasoning they gave:
Data Collection and Access: TikTok enables vast data collection, including location tracking, keystroke monitoring, and personal data aggregation. The Justice Department called this “unprecedented,” raising fears of espionage and exploitation by China.
National Security Threats: Officials warn of potential spying, blackmail, and recruitment by China using TikTok.
Content Manipulation: Concerns include the Chinese Communist Party manipulating TikTok’s algorithm to influence U.S. public opinion, suppress dissent, or spread disinformation.
Although ByteDance challenged the law on First Amendment grounds, the Supreme Court upheld it. A ban took effect on January 19, 2025, though enforcement remains uncertain after a delay announced by Trump. For now, TikTok’s future is in limbo.
So, why am I against a ban?
I’m a huge privacy advocate, and agree that TikTok is an atrocious piece of spyware. But banning it is the wrong solution. Here’s why:
1. It’s Ineffective
A ban won’t stop China—or others—from collecting data. China is already embedded in U.S. telecommunications, IoT devices, and the data brokerage industry, which sells detailed profiles of Americans to foreign adversaries. TikTok is one piece of a larger puzzle.
Data Collection: Beyond TikTok, platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram feed China through real-time bidding (RTB) systems, data brokers, and other pipelines.
Manipulation: TikTok’s algorithm isn’t unique—other platforms also manipulate public opinion through content curation, advertising, and social graphs. This problem is actually a huge issue that we have to face, and a ban on TikTok won’t stop it.
2. It Creates a False Sense of Security
Banning TikTok might feel like a win, but it’s an illusion. Politicians get credit for “solving” the problem, while the real threats persist. People become complacent, assuming the issue is resolved, and the urgency to address broader privacy concerns fades.
3. It Sets a Dangerous Precedent
This is the most important reason: Censoring software establishes troubling government overreach into personal choices. Today it’s TikTok; tomorrow, it could be any software the government deems problematic. Perhaps it’s Signal private messenger for "lack of regulation and impeding national security," a privacy coin for "enabling untraceable transactions," VPNs for "bypassing government censorship," or non-mainstream social media for "spreading misinformation." This precedent risks eroding autonomy and critical thinking, leaving individuals reliant on the government to decide what’s safe.
The Bigger Issue: Privacy Violations Everywhere
TikTok is just one example of a global trend: governments and corporations collecting data to manipulate public opinion. This isn’t hypothetical—our digital footprint is a goldmine for foreign adversaries and advertisers alike.
But the fight isn’t just about TikTok. Every app, platform, and algorithm shapes how we think, what we buy, and even how we vote. Manipulation is a constant in the digital age, amplified by advances in technology and pervasive data collection.
A Call to Action: Take Control of Your Privacy
The good news is that this event has led to more people waking up to the importance of privacy. Many are starting to understand the truth about TikTok and its invasive practices. Let’s build on this momentum by showing them all the ways their digital footprint is being used against them—and, more importantly, by teaching them how to empower themselves.
The first step is understanding how our information is leaked: By taking control of who we want to share our data with, we make it much harder for others to profile and manipulate us. Some solutions include end-to-end encrypted messengers, privacy-focused email providers, alias services, private browsers and search engines, and VoIP numbers. This is a critical moment to onboard people to privacy tools and help them take back their digital lives.
Next, we need to recognize all the ways people and platforms try to influence our behavior—whether it’s through curated social media feeds, video ads, app pop-ups, or algorithmically tailored content. The good news is that we can block a lot of these attempts before they even reach us.
Here’s how to start:
Use a Privacy-Preserving Browser: Switch to a browser like Brave, which blocks ads and trackers by default, keeping invasive content from ever loading.
Choose Alternative Video Platforms: Explore platforms that don’t serve paid recommendations or manipulate your viewing experience.
Curate Your Social Media Feed: Take control by using tools like lists to organize and prioritize the content you see, instead of relying on default algorithms designed to push someone else’s agenda.
These small but actionable changes make a big difference in reclaiming your privacy and attention. By taking steps now, we can start building a future where privacy and autonomy are the norm—not the exception.
The Fight for Critical Thinking
Banning TikTok won’t save us. It might even make things worse by distracting from larger issues and eroding trust in our ability to make informed choices. The real solution lies in fostering a culture of privacy awareness and individual empowerment.
In this new era, manipulation is subtle, and the stakes are high. Governments can’t monitor everything, and we shouldn’t want them to. Instead, we must take responsibility for our own privacy and autonomy.
Let’s use this moment to build a better future—one where privacy, freedom, and critical thinking thrive. Together, we can reclaim control and ensure that the digital age doesn’t define us, but empowers us.
Yours in privacy,
Naomi
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