The Controversy Behind TikTok's Popularity

TikTok has rapidly risen to become one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, reportedly boasting over a billion monthly active users. However, its success is often clouded by controversies surrounding data privacy concerns, geopolitical tensions with China, and its potential role in spreading misinformation. In the U.S., the government has proposed banning the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership, citing national security issues as a primary rationale. This ban has sparked debates over the actual risks posed by TikTok compared to other apps that hold similar or even more sensitive user data.