Tik Tok is a social media app that is popular among many U.S. citizens — but one that is frequented by college students. Now, the United States government is attempting to ban the app all together. Officials fear that the app puts users’ data at risk. The company that owns the app, ByteDance, claims that privacy is not at risk but American legislators are among those who do not agree.

On March 1, 2023 a U.S. House committee voted to push legislation through that would allow President Joe Biden to ban Tik Tok from all devices across the country. And just a few weeks ago, Tik Tok’s chief executive, Shou Chew, was questioned about the parent company and whether or not the Chinese government has any hold over the information that the app stores.

Here at IU, students like IU junior Casey Lazear feel that the privacy issue is not a main concern — she shares that she understands that most apps take data from their users and Tik Tok really is no different. “Millions upon millions of apps are out there that are getting your information anyways,” she said. “So just taking Tik Tok down isn’t really gonna make a difference it’s just going to make everyone upset and annoyed.”

Some have questioned whether the Chinese government could be playing the long game in terms of gaining information right now. They wonder if they are waiting for younger generations to step into leadership roles within the government, tech industry, etc. so they already have that access to information that could potentially influence American life. Isak Nti Asare is the Executive Director for IU’s Cyber Security Clinic. He says that is not the main worry: “If the Chinese government wanted data on Americans, particularly Americans in college, most of that data is already on the Internet.” So his argument is that the information is already there — there is no need for them to play the long game through Tik Tok.

Something that does pose a concern, though, is the use of algorithms. Asare shares that these algorithms are so closely curated to the users like and dislikes that they can ultimately alter their reality.

“That every single user is having an individualized experience on it, gives the ability of the people who are sort of behind the algorithms and behind the technology to craft your reality in a way that suits them,” he said.

But this is an issue with every social media app.

Asare is a proponent for better privacy legislation for Americans since all of the information is not protected for anyone.

“The problem is,” Asare says. “That we as Americans do not have rights to protect our data. Right? And regardless of who owned it, that can still be exploited.”

Americans companies are looking to potentially buy the app themselves, but Asare feels that would solve nothing. No matter the owner, Americans still continue without any rights over their own information.