TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. It currently has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. Recently, TikTok has been embroiled in various controversies related to data privacy and national security concerns, especially in the United States.
In early 2023, some TikTok users reported being prompted by the app to provide their Social Security Number (SSN) for age verification purposes. TikTok claims this is to comply with upcoming changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which requires online services to verify ages for users under 13. However, the move has raised suspicions about how TikTok handles user data and its connections to China.
TikTok’s Explanation
TikTok has stated that requesting users’ Social Security numbers is part of their age verification process to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). COPPA is a US regulation that requires online services to protect the privacy of children under 13.
According to TikTok’s statement, they ask for SSNs “to confirm the age of certain users, as required by law.” The purpose is to verify if a user is under 13 years old. If so, TikTok will delete their account and data to comply with COPPA.
TikTok says collecting SSNs allows them to “provide a safe and age-appropriate experience” and prevent children from circumventing their age-verification methods. They claim it is part of their commitment to user safety and responsible practices.
User Concerns
Many TikTok users have expressed worry about data privacy and security when it comes to providing their Social Security number to the app. There is reluctance among some American users to hand over such sensitive information to an app that has ties to China 1.
Critics point out that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered in Beijing. There are fears that data on American users could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. A recent report revealed that some TikTok creator data, including Social Security numbers, was stored in China 2. This has exacerbated mistrust among users.
Many question if TikTok has adequate security measures and protocols in place to safeguard sensitive user data like Social Security numbers. There are calls for more transparency from TikTok on how exactly user data is protected and secured.
Potential Uses for SSN
TikTok asks users for their Social Security number for targeted advertising purposes. Social Security numbers allow companies like TikTok to build detailed profiles of users for ad targeting. According to the Social Security Administration, “The SSN enables government agencies to identify individuals in their records and businesses to track an individual’s financial information.”
By having access to a user’s SSN, TikTok can better understand their financial situation and purchasing power. This allows them to serve highly customized, targeted ads based on income level and credit history. TikTok may also use SSNs to run credit checks on users to determine their creditworthiness for certain types of ads and offers. Overall, obtaining Social Security numbers allows TikTok to build much more detailed consumer profiles than they could with just basic user information.
Data Privacy Regulations
TikTok is subject to various data privacy regulations in the United States. The main laws include:
- The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) – COPPA requires online services to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account and has published COPPA compliance guidelines.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations – The FTC enforces consumer protection and data privacy laws. In 2019, TikTok paid a $5.7 million fine to the FTC over allegations it illegally collected personal information from children.
While TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data practices, it has stated that it stores U.S. user data in the U.S. and Singapore and does not share data with the Chinese government. TikTok says it complies with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations.
Security Measures
TikTok says they take steps to protect user data, but the app has suffered multiple security breaches that exposed users’ personal information.
According to Firewall Times, in October 2021 hackers exploited a vulnerability in TikTok’s system that allowed them to access private account information like usernames, profile pictures, and more. In May 2023, another breach allowed attackers to leak personal information of hundreds of millions of users.
Experts say TikTok’s security measures have not kept pace with its rapid growth. The app reportedly lacked encryption on user data at various points, making it more vulnerable to attacks. While TikTok says it has strengthened defenses, its track record on security remains questionable.
The series of breaches has fueled concerns about how safely TikTok stores user data. Parents in particular worry that their children’s personal information is not adequately protected on the platform.
TikTok Alternatives
While TikTok is extremely popular, there are other apps that teens and young adults use which have similar features. Some of the most popular alternatives include:
Instagram Reels – Instagram launched Reels as a way to directly compete with TikTok by allowing users to create and share short videos. Reels has access to Instagram’s massive user base of over 1 billion monthly active users. However, Instagram’s data policy states that they collect content, communications and other information users provide when using their services. The policy also says they share information with vendors to perform services and ad partners to assist with ad targeting.
YouTube Shorts – As a dominant force in online video, YouTube launched Shorts as a TikTok clone focused on short form videos. While YouTube is very popular with over 2 billion monthly logged-in users, their data policy says they collect data to show users personalized content and ads, develop new services and analyze how users interact with their services. Data may be shared with vendors and advertising partners.
While alternatives like Instagram and YouTube are popular apps for teens, parents should still be aware of their data collection practices when evaluating privacy concerns.
Expert Opinions
While there is currently no direct evidence that TikTok poses a national security threat to the U.S., some privacy advocates, lawmakers, and security experts have expressed concerns about the risks associated with the popular app (CNN, ABC News).
Lawmakers have pointed to the fact that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered in China. They argue that under China’s national intelligence laws, ByteDance could be forced to share U.S. user data with the Chinese government if requested (NPR).
Privacy advocates say that while there is no direct evidence this is happening, the amount of data collected by TikTok combined with its ownership raises some red flags. TikTok collects data on users’ locations, messages, contacts, interests, browsing history and more according to its privacy policy.
However, security experts say the app doesn’t appear to collect any more data than comparable social media platforms owned by U.S. companies like Facebook and Google. They argue the benefits of using TikTok should be weighed against the potential risks.
Overall, experts say parents should monitor their kids’ use of TikTok and educate them about data privacy. But for most adult users, deleting TikTok over security fears may be an overreaction given the lack of evidence of misuse so far.
What Parents Can Do
Parents have several alternatives to providing their child’s Social Security number when signing up for TikTok. For starters, parents can supervise their child’s TikTok use rather than allowing the child to create an account themselves. TikTok’s Family Pairing feature allows parents to link their TikTok account to their child’s in order to monitor and restrict certain account features.
Parents can also turn on TikTok’s Restricted Mode to limit the appearance of potentially inappropriate content. According to TikTok’s safety guide, Restricted Mode “limits the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for all audiences.” Parents can enable this feature under their child’s account settings.
Third party apps like Bark also allow parents to monitor their child’s TikTok activity and usage. With proper parental supervision and controls in place, providing a child’s Social Security number may not be necessary when creating a TikTok account.
Conclusion
To summarize the main points, TikTok has started asking for users’ Social Security numbers in order to comply with IRS tax information reporting requirements. While TikTok claims they will keep this sensitive information secure, many users are understandably concerned about potential data privacy issues.
For parents of teenage TikTok users, be sure to have an open conversation about data privacy and the risks of providing personal information online. Consider alternative platforms with stronger privacy protections, and encourage teens to think critically before handing over their SSN.
In the end, each individual must weigh the risks and decide if using TikTok is worth providing their SSN. There are no easy answers, as platforms like TikTok promise entertainment and connections but also require trusting them with sensitive data. Stay vigilant about protecting your information.
