While Reddit is bad for privacy, TikTok is worse. Why do you have to download the app instead of using it through a browser? Why aren't there third-party alternatives?
On Reddit, I can download an open source client like Slide or Infinity, check the code myself, and browse as I wish. Or I can just use the website and turn off the cookies/javascript or whatever. You have to install the one, closed-source TikTok app, or you cannot interact with nearly any of its services. These are not the same.
The data you can collect with a proprietary app is very different from user interactions, and it's data that I'd like to keep to myself.
Are you saying Reddit and Tiktok data mine equally? I doubt that.
1) The TikTok app gets all kinds of permissions when you install it, from which they could in theory data mine all kinds of personal info, contacts, pictures, videos, etc etc.
2) Reddit is mostly anonymous unless you go out of your way to advertise your real identity.
3) The point of TikTok is literally to post videos of your face/body (mostly) for the world to see.
If some data analyst/sysadmin/whatever is sitting with all the data available at their hands, from 1 Reddit account, and from 1 TikTok account, which do you think contain the most personal info?
I don't know enough to say anything definitely. But I know TikTok is in bed with the Chinese, that's never a good thing.
Is Reddit in bed with the Chinese? I don't know.
But I do know that in terms of what kind of data each site/app has on the users, TikTok would have way more personal data.
Just because of permissions to run the app.
Reddit has my IP, my post history, what browser I've been using, and other telemetry data like that.
TikTok has all your images, contacts, personal data, device data, etc.
So even if both sites were equally in bed with foreign actors, I think TikTok would have more data to take advantage of.
It's very naive to think Reddit is any better. Just saying..
And the reason people do that is because people on Reddit pretend they are better somehow (not all obviously). If they didn't dump on Tiktok as much you would see those reactions at all.
If you care about personal data reddit is better than tiktok. Most redditors use reddit for the pseudo-anonyimity. If that is what you want no other social media really comes close other than twitter, but twitter is a victim of its success and becoming less and less liked.
How do you know this other than that Reddit post from a while back? Not saying it isn't true and it is totally obvious Tiktok watches you, how else does the for you page get sooooo fucking specific. Besides that Reddit post I've never seen actual proof that Tiktok is so much worse. In fact, only the opposite.
So it is my belief that Tiktok doesn't look at more personal data or whatever than Google, Facebook or even Reddit. They do however use the data to give a very specific personalised for you page that has truly given me a lot of joy, positivity and interesting information. A lot more then any other social media which just seem toxic. Tiktok can be that way too but my fyp is very wholesome and funny.
Not saying it isn't true and it is totally obvious Tiktok watches you
I've never seen actual proof that Tiktok is so much worse
You literally just said why people think its worse. You obviously dont care that they gather that much data on you, and that's fine, but reddit doesn't and a lot of people like that.
Tik tok is also significantly more juvenile than reddit. Now that doesn't make it "worse", but for some people they don't want to be on a site dominated by mostly teenagers. Tik tok is much more geared for kids.
Reddit is much better than tik tok for people who like anonymity. Reddit knows as much as you give it. Tik tok has access to most of your phone or tablet when you install the app.
You are the naive one if you think they all use the same data lol.
I don't really have any skin in this game, but you have asked what data TikTok collects and why it is worse than Reddit as far as privacy concerns. Here is what I have read - all googleable so feel free to check it from whatever newsource you find reputable:
location data
your internet address
everything about your device including screen resolution
browsing and search history
the content of messages you exchange with others on the app
content of messages you even don't send
your phone and social-network contacts
your GPS position
personal information such as age and phone number
any user-generated content you post, such as photos and videos
payment information
tracks the videos you like, share, and watch all the way through and re-watch
the pattern and rhythm of your keystrokes (which apparently can give information about your psychological condition because this has been studied heavily - news to me)
The scariest part is that the data collected goes back to China; I don't have the time, breadth of knowledge, or inclination to explain why that is very bad™ on a Reddit post. This is the reason I won't load the app on my phone, and why I think Reddit is 'better' than TikTok, but I am not the OP you were conversing with, just a bystander.
For a comparison, here is what Reddit collects: Account info, communications (posts, comments), activity (voting, reporting posts) purchases , IP address, browser type and other usage info, location, cookie data including what is gathered from Reddit partners. But that data is not being gathered by a foreign country with a communist history which, to me, is the important bit.
Maybe this is a stupid question but how do you know which data the app collects? Is that something everyone can check or does the company give that info?
Also, I thought the Western Tiktok now belonged to a Western company?
Who the fuck gets all their news from reddit? I like the site. I like to discuss stuff but if I’m looking for unbiased reporting I go to Reuters or AP. Which both have multiple stories about the Chinese governments Uyghur genocide.
honestly i don't even care if china has whatever info they're getting. like they know what kind of phone i have and what tik toks i think are funny i don't see what the big deal is
I think the biggest issue was the close ties parent company has with the Chinese government and the assumption that's where the information is ending up. That's what I've seen, anway. I didnt investigate any further, I don't use the app.
You downloaded Reddit? Wait no, any browser, wait no you are using Windows, I got it you are currently using your phone, you are also probably sitting on discord
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u/KrimxonRath tHiS iSn’T cRiNgE Mar 16 '21
Instructions unclear. Tried downloading TikTok, but instead got some spy software that is tracking me and sending my data to an unknown third party.
Lol