If you’re one of the 170 million TikTok users in the U.S., it’s time to start making sure your account is properly secured and updated ahead of the impending January ban.
What’s going on with TikTok?
The Biden administration pushed through a bill earlier this year that requires TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance to either divest or be banned in the United States as early as January 19.
Lawmakers and regulators are worried that TikTok and ByteDance could give sensitive user data to the Chinese government. There are also concerns over national security threats.
TikTok has been fighting the case, but recently lost its first legal effort in a court of appeals. The company says it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Still, users are closer than ever before to the law taking effect.
Will TikTok disappear from my phone?
Chances are, you’ll be able to keep TikTok on your phone.
The law will penalize app stores and other internet service providers for distributing or updating the app. This means that TikTok would likely just degrade over time and become impossible to use. It also wouldn’t be able to push out updates for bugs and other security issues, so your account may be more vulnerable to bad actors.
The best thing to do in order to extend potential app use is to keep the app current by checking your device’s respective app store every so often. However, this isn’t a forever fix.
What can I do for my privacy and security?
You can—and should—take a few steps now to make sure you’re not sending unnecessary data to TikTok and its owner.
The most secure thing to do is to wipe your account and delete it off your phone. However, that’s going to be a hard sell for many.
Disable location access, so that TikTok can’t pinpoint directly where you are at all times. Be sure to revoke access to any contact syncing—whether through Facebook or phone contacts. You can also turn off access to the microphone and camera if you’re not using the app itself to post. Limit the access to your camera roll.
If you want to make sure your account is secure, use an authenticator app to set up two-factor authentication.
If you’d like a record of your data, you can submit a request for a report that includes your username, shopping history, video, and comment history. Also, you can download your videos and drafts to keep track of what you created.
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