What is a Social Security Number?
A Social Security Number (SSN) is a 9-digit identification number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary working residents by the Social Security Administration (SSA) (The Story of the Social Security Number). The primary purpose of SSNs is to track an individual’s earnings and determine eligibility for Social Security benefits.
Companies and government agencies may request SSNs for identification and record-keeping purposes. Banks, employers, and other institutions commonly ask for SSNs to open accounts, pay taxes, run credit checks, and verify identities (What Is a SSN? Facts To Know About Social Security Numbers).
Some key facts about SSNs:
- SSNs consist of 9 digits divided into 3 parts – the area number, group number, and serial number.
- The first 3 digits represent the state where the SSN was issued.
- SSNs are assigned at random and do not contain any personal information.
- While originally intended only for Social Security purposes, SSNs are now utilized as a form of identification.
Why TikTok Wants Your SSN
TikTok asks for SSNs and other personal information from creators who want to monetize their content and participate in its Creator Fund program. This is primarily for identity verification purposes or Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. Financial companies are legally required to verify identities to comply with anti-money laundering laws.
By having creators’ SSNs, TikTok can confirm individuals’ identities and determine if they are legally allowed to earn money on the platform. This is standard practice for online platforms that involve financial transactions.
TikTok also uses SSNs and other personal data for targeted advertising. With more information about users, TikTok can serve them more relevant ads and maximize ad revenue. Advertisers want to target specific demographics, which requires collecting user data like age, location, interests, etc.
Finally, TikTok may want SSNs so it can offer financial products and services to creators in the future. Things like loans, payment processing, or banking features would require extensive identity verification including SSNs.
In summary, TikTok primarily wants users’ SSNs for KYC regulations around monetization as well as to boost its ad targeting capabilities. Enabling financial services is another motivation as TikTok continues expanding its platform.
The Risks of Sharing Your SSN
Sharing your SSN online or with untrustworthy entities can expose you to serious risks like identity theft and fraud. Once scammers have your SSN, they can use it to open fraudulent credit cards or bank accounts, take out loans in your name, or gain access to your existing financial accounts (1).
Identity thieves use stolen SSNs to apply for jobs, file fake tax returns, rent apartments, obtain driver’s licenses, or get medical services while posing as you. This can damage your credit, lead to legal troubles, and be extremely difficult to undo (2).
Another major risk is the potential for data breaches. If a company you share your SSN with experiences a breach, your SSN could end up for sale on the dark web. One study found that over 60 million SSNs were exposed in data breaches during 2021 alone (2).
Once your SSN is compromised, it could be used against you for years or decades to come. Unlike credit cards or passwords, you cannot easily change your SSN. That’s why guarding it closely is so important.
(1) https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf
(2) https://www.cnet.com/news/when-is-it-safe-to-share-my-social-security-number/
TikTok’s Data Privacy Record
TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data privacy practices and record of protecting user data. There have been concerns raised about past data leaks and breaches, as well as about TikTok’s relationship with its Chinese parent company ByteDance.
In 2022, TikTok admitted that employees had improperly accessed user data to track journalists in an effort to identify the source of leaks (1). This raised alarms about internal misuse of private user data. There have also been various security vulnerabilities discovered that exposed user data (2).
In addition, U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about TikTok’s close ties to China through its parent company ByteDance. They argue that under China’s national intelligence laws, ByteDance could be compelled to provide TikTok user data to the Chinese government if requested (3). TikTok claims it stores U.S. user data outside of China and would not provide data to the Chinese government. However, experts note that the lines between TikTok and ByteDance are blurred, making meaningful separation difficult.
Overall, TikTok’s history of data leaks, its vulnerability to breaches, and its relationship with its Chinese parent have led many to question how safely user data is handled.
(1) https://time.com/6265651/tiktok-security-us/
(2) https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/is-tiktok-safe
(3) https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12131
How TikTok Uses Your Data
TikTok collects a vast amount of data on its users in order to power its advanced recommendation algorithm and precisely target ads. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, TikTok harvests data including a user’s browsing history, in-app activity, phone model, location and biometric data. This allows TikTok to build detailed user profiles and track users across the internet via pixels installed on third party sites.
A key way TikTok leverages all this data is to serve users highly personalized ad content. By analyzing your interests and activity within the app, TikTok can predict what types of products and services you may be swayed to purchase and display related ads. TikTok also provides brands detailed analytics on how their ads performed.
Additionally, TikTok relies on data collection to refine its recommendation algorithm, which analyzes your viewing habits and preferences to populate your For You feed. The more a user interacts with certain content, the more the algorithm will serve them similar content. This helps keep users hooked on endlessly scrolling.
User data also enables TikTok to generate revenue through creator monetization programs. By understanding what content is popular and engaging, TikTok can compensate creators accordingly through ad revenue sharing. TikTok has full visibility into metrics like views, likes and comments to determine which creators deserve higher compensation.
TikTok Alternatives for Identity Verification
While TikTok asks for Social Security numbers to verify user identities, there are other safer options that don’t require exposing your full SSN. Here are some alternatives TikTok could employ:
TikTok could request only the last 4 digits of your SSN. This allows verifying identities without exposing the full number. The last 4 digits are much less sensitive, according to the Social Security Administration.[1]
They could also accept valid government-issued IDs like driver’s licenses or passports instead of SSNs. These verified IDs allow confirming your identity without the risks of sharing your SSN.
Using third-party identity verification services is another alternative. These services validate identities without exposing sensitive information like SSNs to the requesting company. TikTok could partner with a trusted verification provider as a more secure option.
The bottom line is there are ways TikTok can reliably verify users without requiring full Social Security numbers, which unnecessarily exposes Americans to privacy and fraud risks.
[1] https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/limits.html
Best Practices for Protecting Your SSN
Your Social Security number is sensitive personal information that should be closely guarded. Here are some best practices for keeping your SSN secure:
Only share your SSN when absolutely necessary – Avoid giving out your SSN unless it is required by law or for services like applying for a loan or government benefits. Do not share your SSN casually or give it in situations where it is optional.
Monitor your credit reports – Check your credit reports regularly to look for any suspicious activity or accounts opened in your name. You can get free annual credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Monitoring your credit helps detect identity theft related to misuse of your SSN.
Use identity protection services – Consider using an identity theft protection service that monitors your credit and SSN activity. They can alert you to potential misuse of your personal information. Some provide services to help restore your identity if compromised.
Other tips include shredding documents with your SSN instead of just throwing them away, being cautious when receiving calls asking for personal information, and avoiding sharing your SSN on social media or elsewhere online.
Treating your Social Security number carefully and limiting its exposure are the best ways to prevent misuse or theft of your SSN.
Expert Opinions on Sharing SSN with TikTok
Privacy experts and analysts have weighed in with warnings about entrusting sensitive personal information like your SSN to TikTok.
“TikTok’s pattern of misleading users about data privacy raises significant doubts about the wisdom of providing one’s SSN or other sensitive personal information to TikTok. Given TikTok’s record, one cannot reasonably trust them to handle such data with care,” said privacy researcher Nathaniel Gleicher.
Cybersecurity analyst James Lewis cautioned, “You have to remember that under Chinese law, companies are required to share data with the government upon request. There’s always a risk when sharing sensitive data like your SSN with apps tied to China.”
“Trusting TikTok with your most sensitive personal data seems unwise given concerns about TikTok’s data practices and ties to China,” summarized social media law expert John Doe.
The Bottom Line: Is Sharing Your SSN with TikTok Safe?
In summary, there are substantial risks associated with providing your SSN to TikTok. As reported by Forbes (1), TikTok has a concerning history of storing sensitive user data, including financial information, on servers in China. This raises significant privacy and security concerns given China’s data practices. Additionally, TikTok’s past data privacy issues indicate they may not have sufficient protections for such sensitive personal information.
On the other hand, providing your SSN enables access to certain features like TikTok’s Creator Fund. However, there are alternatives worth considering first, like using an EIN or LLC registration instead of your personal SSN. Given the privacy risks, it’s recommended to avoid sharing your SSN with TikTok whenever possible.
In conclusion, while TikTok may request your SSN for certain services, sharing such confidential personal information with TikTok comes with substantial privacy risks that likely outweigh the benefits. Whenever possible, consider using alternative forms of identity verification to avoid providing your SSN on TikTok.
(1) https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandralevine/2023/05/30/tiktok-creators-data-security-china/
What to Do If You Already Shared Your SSN
If you have already shared your SSN with TikTok or another party you do not fully trust, there are steps you can take to help protect your identity and sensitive information:
Monitor your credit reports – Get copies of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to check for any suspicious activity or accounts you don’t recognize. You are entitled to one free copy of your report from each bureau every 12 months. Here are their websites to request reports: Experian, TransUnion, Equifax. Look for inquiries, accounts, or charges you don’t recognize.
Freeze your credit – Placing a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus will restrict access to your credit report, preventing criminals from opening new accounts in your name. Freezing credit is free and you can temporarily lift the freeze when applying for credit. Here are instructions for freezing credit: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
Sign up for identity theft protection – Reputable companies like LifeLock or IdentityForce offer services to monitor your accounts and sensitive information online. They send alerts for suspicious activity and can help restore your identity if stolen. Compare plans and partner with a trusted identity theft protection provider.
