What on Earth is Going on With Social Media Platforms Right Now?
What’s the story with Tiktok right now?
Are you confused as to why the U.S. and other parts of the world have become so concerned so quickly about TikTok out of all the social media platforms?
What’s the urgency, suddenly?
Well first, let’s remember all allegations are currently unproven.
There are security concerns—but these are not centred on spyware allegations. TikTok collects lots of data — as do all our fav social media platforms — but it does not currently manage more than those others.
The real concerns around TikTok’s vast and fast-growing user base is it’s potential as a platform for disinformation, pushing a Chinese-friendly narrative and its ability to measure the mood and preferences of U.S and other nations citizens to help influence and respond.
Right now overseas, Walmart it is teaming up with Microsoft to buy TikTok’s U.S. quarters in California, as well as the company’s operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The deal could be worth as much as $30 billion.
What does this all mean for you – the user? For users, this option will have little if any impact on the day-to-day running of the social media platform—if anything, you may find the new privacy policy more straightforward and guidelines around data management and security.
However, right now in Australia; TikTok is expanding its operations. Down Under, it’s unveiling more than 20 full-time positions to help “grow and foster Australian content.”
What is TikTok saying? TikTok assures that such data is not stored in China and is not provided to the Chinese authorities. The company says Australian users’ information is stored in the U.S. and Singapore.
What’s the story with Facebook?
Facebook is threatening to ban Australians from sharing news after the ACCC proposed making tech giants pay news organisations.
This comes not long after Google launched an attack on Aus Government plans.
Why is Facebook playing hardball?
It says the consumer watchdog misunderstands the relationship between news and social media platforms and says if Australia requires it to pay for local news content, it will block all news from its Australian users.
What is the Government saying? The proposed laws are necessary to level the playing field between publishers and tech giants.
What does this mean for Facebook users? If Facebook follows through with this, you won’t be able to link any content from media outlets on the social media platform – a blanket ban on all Australian news media businesses will likely lead to very un-compelling content on both Facebook and Instagram.
