TikTok has been compared to the addictive drug fentanyl by a US politician for its “corrosive effect” on young Americans.
Mike Gallagher, future US chairman of a new House of Representatives committee on China, described TikTok as “digital fentanyl” in reference to the addictive opioid painkiller.
Gallagher, who wants TikTok banned in the US, said the app is “very addictive and destructive” and “effectively dates back to the Chinese Communist Party”.
There are concerns among US politicians that the Chinese government could use the app to stalk Americans, censor content and promote Chinese narratives.
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance, has already been banned from all devices owned and administered by the US House of Representatives (file photo)
Mike Gallagher, future US chairman of a new House of Representatives committee on China, spoke to NBC about the controversial app
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid drug used to treat severe pain.
The prescription drug is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent, which also makes it more addictive.
A person who takes prescription fentanyl as directed by a doctor may develop an addiction characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped.
As with other opioid addictions, medication with behavioral therapies has been shown to be effective in treating people with fentanyl addiction.
Source: nida.nih.gov
Gallagher spoke during NBC’s ‘Meet The Press’ in an interview that aired Sunday in the United States.
“It’s very addictive and destructive, and we’re seeing disturbing data about the destructive effects of constant use of social media, particularly on young men and women here in America,” he said.
“The government can’t educate your kids, can’t protect your kids for you, but there are some sensible things we can do to create a healthier social media ecosystem.”
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance, has already been banned from all devices owned and administered by the US House of Representatives.
But Gallagher wants to expand that ban nationwide or risk the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) expanding its control over the media US citizens watch online.
It’s unclear if ByteDance has shared data with Chinese government officials — and TikTok has previously said it hasn’t received any such requests.
However, Gallagher is concerned that the Chinese government is “effectively compiling dossiers filled with our data.”
Gallagher also has an issue with the “lack of transparency” surrounding TikTok’s algorithm, which he says is “addicting to kids.”
The algorithm promotes users on the For You page with videos of people they don’t even follow, but this has proven controversial as it dictates what users see.
Fentanyl is addictive due to its potency. A person who takes prescription fentanyl as directed by a doctor may develop an addiction characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped (File Photo).
TikTok reveals employees in China can spy on European user data
TikTok has revealed that its staff in China can spy on data from its European users, including the UK.
Elaine Fox, TikTok’s Europe privacy officer, claims this is to ensure her “global workforce” can make TikTok “consistent, enjoyable and secure.”
In addition to China, user data is accessible to employees in Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Singapore and the United States.
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“We have to ask ourselves if we want the CCP to control what is poised to become America’s most powerful media company,” Gallagher told NBC.
“What if they start censoring the news, right? What if they start tweaking the algorithm to determine what the CCP deems appropriate to print?’
“I’m concerned about TikTok’s ability to track your location, track your keystrokes, and track which websites you visit — even when you’re not using the app.”
A recent report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) also said that TikTok’s For You page lacked “meaningful transparency” and that the algorithm operated “in an opaque manner.”
TikTok allows users as young as 13 to create an account by asking for a date of birth, although it doesn’t prevent children under that age from using it.
TikTok was banned from all devices owned and administered by the US House of Representatives just last week.
The ban is part of the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending Bill signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Dec. 29.
Lawmakers and their staff received an email urging them to take down the app because it’s classified as “high risk” due to a number of security issues.
TikTok is now banned from all devices owned and administered by the US House of Representatives – part of the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending Act signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Dec. 29 (pictured).
The memo, obtained by Portal, tells House staff that they are “not allowed to download the TikTok app on House mobile devices.
“If you have the TikTok app on your House mobile device, you will be contacted to remove it,” it said.
Web has reached out to TikTok for comment.
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Chron research reveals teens on TikTok are being bombarded with self-harm and suicide content within minutes
A recent investigation by the Chron found that teenagers are being bombarded with self-harm and suicide content on TikTok within minutes of joining the platform.
An account set up by the Chron showed 14-year-old Emily posts about suicidal thoughts within five minutes of expressing an interest in depression content.
After 15 minutes of scrolling, its algorithm demonstrated how to hide content from parents.
Within 24 hours, the account was bombarded with more than 1,000 videos about depression, self-harm, suicide and eating disorders. Some videos have had millions of views.
TikTok says the account that created the Mail for this experiment “liked” a number of videos that its team proactively removed for violating its policies without being reported.
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