One Billion Users, But Controversies Mount for TikTok
AFP/APP
Paris: TikTok’s meteoric rise from a niche video-sharing app to a global social media giant has attracted intense scrutiny, particularly due to its links to China. The platform faces accusations of espionage, suspected influence campaigns, and growing concerns over its impact on young users and global politics.
Key Controversies Surrounding TikTok:
Albania: Minimum One-Year Ban
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that TikTok would be banned in the country for at least one year starting in 2025. This decision came after a violent confrontation in Tirana, where a 14-year-old student was killed in a fight sparked by an online dispute on social media.
Romania: Suspected Influence Campaign
The European Union is investigating whether TikTok was involved in a campaign to influence Romania’s presidential election in favour of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. This is the third investigation by the EU into TikTok, which risks facing fines of up to 6% of its global turnover. TikTok has denied the allegations, stating that it took “robust actions” to combat election-related misinformation.
US: Sell-Off Pressure
The United States passed a law in April demanding that TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, sell off the platform by January 19 due to concerns over data access. If TikTok does not comply, the platform faces a potential ban in the US, a market with 170 million users. While TikTok admitted that some ByteDance employees in China accessed American data, it denies providing data to Chinese authorities.
Australia: Teenage Ban
Australia passed a landmark law in November banning under-16s from accessing social media. TikTok, among other platforms, was affected, with companies facing hefty fines for non-compliance. TikTok expressed disappointment over the legislation, arguing that it could push young people to less regulated corners of the internet.
EU: Engagement Feature Ditched
Under pressure from EU regulators, TikTok removed a feature from its Lite version in France and Spain that rewarded users for time spent watching videos. This “rewards programme” for users aged 18 and above was criticized for potentially fostering addiction, leading to its discontinuation.
Disinformation
TikTok faces ongoing criticism for the spread of harmful “challenge” videos, such as the deadly blackout challenge, and misinformation on topics like the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A report by NewsGuard found that about one-fifth of videos on such issues were misleading or fake.
TikTok collaborates with fact-checking organizations like AFP to moderate and remove false information from the platform.
Despite these challenges, TikTok’s editing features, powerful algorithm, and large user base continue to make it a leading force in the social media landscape.
