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The biggest social media news of the last few weeks centers around TikTok’s new terms of service, which went into effect on January 22. The new agreement — which didn’t allow users to DISAGREE, btw; it was either “agree” or leave the app — lays out in writing a bunch of stuff that TikTok was allegedly doing before these new terms of service were released … but there is something especially sinister about seeing it all laid out in writing.
Cybersecurity Girl had a very simple breakdown of the official changes to TikTok’s policies, which made it seem like not much had changed. But there’s an explicit contrast between what they used to collect, and what they’re collecting now. Here are the ones I’m most concerned about:
- Tracking your precise geographic location. I turned off location tracking on my socials after Instagram’s sudden release of its very risky “Maps” feature, but it sounds like if you still have location turned on for TikTok, they can track you down to an exact address.
- Collecting any data that interacts with AI. If you’re using ANY of TikTok’s AI tools — which includes filters, which almost EVERYONE uses — they now reserve the right to collect any data you upload to the app. This includes your likeness, voice, and prompts you enter into AI tools.
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but given that the US has effectively devolved into a dystopian hellscape and people are increasingly being hunted for sport based on their immigration status and the color of their skin, I’m not thrilled with the idea of social media having more capabilities to track us.
I generally try to avoid AI usage wherever possible, and I already have location services turned off, so I’m proceeding with caution as someone who has to use TikTok for work. But I’m curious — knowing what you know about the platform, its recent changes, and the way Big Tech and our political leadership work hand-in-hand, do you feel safe continuing to use TikTok?
| Do you feel safe continuing to use TikTok? |
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Don’t forget: I'm offering a free 20-minute consult to Golden Hour subscribers! This gives us a chance to go over your social media and digital presence, and for you to ask any questions you have about platforms, strategy, and more!
Consider it a thank you for being here. And you know what? Even if you don't need a social media consult, feel free to book the call anyway — I'm always down to shoot the shit for 20 minutes 🥳
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📚 To read: I’m still working my way through The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. (Be gentle! It’s a long book!) It is beautifully written, and heavy. I am trying to remain hopeful for a happy ending for the main characters (though I know, historically speaking, that’s unlikely).
📺 To watch: One of my clients recommended Stumble, which is a workplace documentary-style show that focuses around a cheer squad at an Oklahoma community college. It’s exactly the kind of lighthearted comedy I need right now given *gestures broadly at everything*
🎧 To listen: Also serving as emotional regulation this month: Adele’s entire musical catalog. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sing (for those who don’t know, I was in choirs from 4th to 10th grade and even performed competitively), and Adele’s music is especially fun to belt at the top of my lungs, whether I’m in the car, shower, or out in public with my kids, much to their embarrassment.
🍜 To eat: We are still in the midst of soup season, and Ivar’s Lumberjack Chili has been in constant rotation. (And of course, I buy this at Costco so I have a seemingly endless supply, which suits me just fine.)
🚶🏻♀️To do: I had a very community-heavy weekend, which felt like such a ray of sunshine in what are otherwise very dark and scary times. I gathered with friends at the @SeattleThreadsIRL meetup on Saturday, and then later that evening, with my synagogue community to celebrate the temple’s 70th (!!) anniversary at our annual gala. More than ever, we need to be cultivating these important relationships, and building communities for ourselves as the larger systems at play work to tear us apart.
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