TikTok’s User Data Can Be Accessed By Researchers

A few years ago, when TikTok began to gain momentum, the US gov and many other regulators worldwide decided to take a closer look at this social platform. They found that this app violates children’s rights, and there was no control what’s posted. As a result, it was banned in some countries and regions. This didn’t prevent the app from becoming even more popular. We even remember that some gov called it a treat to the national security. I remember that my 5-year-old daughter was obsessed with it. So I removed the app from the phone, telling her that the content wasn’t what would make her become better.

Who Can Access TikTok User Data?

Like other social platforms and similar apps, TikTok collects user data. As they all prove, it’s done to provide a better experience and show more relevant content. You and I know that user data can be used for various purposes. Even if the author-companies do not use it for other goals, the system can be always hacked.

To show that its activity is transparent, TikTok has started testing its API since last year. Not long ago, it announced that API’s data is available to researchers affiliated with non-profit academic institutions in the US.

Well, to access TikTok user database, scholars should submit a proposal. They should be approved by the US Data Security (USDS) division. Once approved, they will get access to the public account, and content info users post on the app. Among them, we can mention comments, likes, etc. Such a data can help scholars understand young generation’s behavior. The rest is up to the scholars.

With this move, TikTok is trying to prove that it’s not a threat to national security. If failed, like many states in the US, it could be banned in the country.