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[J N Winkler]

We just got a policy update last week that prohibits the TikTok app from being installed on work devices. It's the only app I know of that is expressly prohibited. It was done through a policy update, but there's legislation being considered this year to codify the ban.

The State of Kansas did the same thing about a month ago.

I don't go out of my way to avoid TikTok links, but I would not consider installing the app even on a personal device, largely because I don't need yet another social media app with ethically problematic UI design.  The cybersecurity concerns with TikTok have more to do with their policy allowing collection of biometric data and their inability, as a Chinese-owned firm, to give a credible promise that they will not serve as a vehicle for Chinese spying.

[skluth]

We just got a policy update last week that prohibits the TikTok app from being installed on work devices. It's the only app I know of that is expressly prohibited. It was done through a policy update, but there's legislation being considered this year to codify the ban.

The State of Kansas did the same thing about a month ago.

I don't go out of my way to avoid TikTok links, but I would not consider installing the app even on a personal device, largely because I don't need yet another social media app with ethically problematic UI design.  The cybersecurity concerns with TikTok have more to do with their policy allowing collection of biometric data and their inability, as a Chinese-owned firm, to give a credible promise that they will not serve as a vehicle for Chinese spying.

That's pretty much my strategy with TikTok. It has no appeal for me as yet another social media platform and I've never been the type who's spent hours watching cat videos or following Kardashians (or any other influencers). My time both in the military and as a civilian with a security clearance means I probably don't trust the Chinese government even more than most people.

[CoreySamson]

Especially now that the latest "challenge" involves giving peanuts to people who have peanut allergies.

It disgusts me that people find that funny.

[JayhawkCO]

Especially now that the latest "challenge" involves giving peanuts to people who have peanut allergies.

It disgusts me that people find that funny.

We truly live in an Idiocracy.

[abefroman329]

Especially now that the latest "challenge" involves giving peanuts to people who have peanut allergies.

It disgusts me that people find that funny.

We truly live in an Idiocracy.

It was one thing when people were doing stupid shit to themselves, that's just Darwinism at work.  Trying to kill another person for the lulz, though, that's straight-up sociopathic.

[Scott5114]

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

[Rothman]

We just got a policy update last week that prohibits the TikTok app from being installed on work devices. It's the only app I know of that is expressly prohibited. It was done through a policy update, but there's legislation being considered this year to codify the ban.

Makes me skeptical of clicking on a TikTok link embedded elsewhere in a site accessible via a browser or another app. Since I have an Apple ID for my personal use, that's the one I use for my work phone as well. My mother-in-law texted me a link to a TikTok video the other day and I got the link on both devices, since she uses and iPhone too and iMessages are delivered via Apple ID and not phone numbers.

I can't think of a legitimate purpose for TikTok being on a work phone of a state employee, anyway.

[Rothman]

We just got a policy update last week that prohibits the TikTok app from being installed on work devices. It's the only app I know of that is expressly prohibited. It was done through a policy update, but there's legislation being considered this year to codify the ban.

The State of Kansas did the same thing about a month ago.

I don't go out of my way to avoid TikTok links, but I would not consider installing the app even on a personal device, largely because I don't need yet another social media app with ethically problematic UI design.  The cybersecurity concerns with TikTok have more to do with their policy allowing collection of biometric data and their inability, as a Chinese-owned firm, to give a credible promise that they will not serve as a vehicle for Chinese spying.

Chinese can spy on me all they want.  What they can do with knowing what kind of food porn I watch won't hurt me.

[formulanone]

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

All of this.

(Most of the video is also recorded in portrait mode, which works for specific instances, just not most instances.)

[JoePCool14]

Let's be honest with ourselves here. All of the things that TikTok does (encourage social media addiction, encourage stupid trends, lurking pedophiles, invasion of privacy/spying, selling data, etc.), almost every other platform does. It's just TikTok is more... blatant about it, I guess? I can guarantee that almost all the other tech giants are friends with China.

And YouTube is trying to make Shorts their own TikTok. They're bringing monetization to it in February, so I expect a lot of TikTok people may move to YouTube for that sweet ad revenue.

[formulanone]

Let's be honest with ourselves here. All of the things that TikTok does [...]

And not everyone here enjoys social media, though the upstart is most likely to be the one which is most suspicious. It also means trying to enjoy a new ecosystem of involvement and not everyone wants to dive right in with other prior engagements and tasks already at hand. Maybe in 3-10 years, its adoption will be much higher, and it will be another established player until the newest one arrives on the scene...but there have been a number of security concerns which can't be controlled that some other apps permit.

Also: as with most forums, most long-time participants prefer reading to watching videos. Most here prefer finding and discovering information rather than having it randomly thrown at us. We prefer our own sounds/music to those blared at us. We aren't as impressed with attention-seekers and understand that not all posts get public gratification, especially a hobby which entails a lot of solitary time, or spending it with a very select circle. Our average age points higher than TikTok's target range.

[Max Rockatansky]

What exactly does TikTok offer that other social media platforms don’t?  From what I can surmise TikTok is mainly just short videos mostly posted by kids doing song routines.

[hbelkins]

We just got a policy update last week that prohibits the TikTok app from being installed on work devices. It's the only app I know of that is expressly prohibited. It was done through a policy update, but there's legislation being considered this year to codify the ban.

Makes me skeptical of clicking on a TikTok link embedded elsewhere in a site accessible via a browser or another app. Since I have an Apple ID for my personal use, that's the one I use for my work phone as well. My mother-in-law texted me a link to a TikTok video the other day and I got the link on both devices, since she uses and iPhone too and iMessages are delivered via Apple ID and not phone numbers.

I can't think of a legitimate purpose for TikTok being on a work phone of a state employee, anyway.

We had an interesting situation present itself yesterday. Some people are getting complaints about road and traffic issues sent via links to TikTok videos. Our response is to contact the constituent and tell them to phrase their complaint in writing, since state employees are not allowed to access TikTok content on work devices. That will no doubt make the complainants upset, but there's no exception being made for constituent complaints.

I'm actually a bit surprised that official agencies aren't using TikTok for promotion. In addition to the basics (Facebook and Twitter), I'm seeing DOTs have presences on Instagram and Pinterest, among other platforms/apps. KYTC is even experimenting with NextDoor, following a lead from ODOT.

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

I'm not a big video fan, either. (With one exception...) I'd rather read something than have to sit through a video about it. There's lots of political and current event content I would consume if it was in written narrative form instead of a video.

That exception?

watching cat videos

I can watch good cat videos for hours. And I wish video had been as readily available back when we had some of our cats and kittens years ago. If I'd been able to get a video of the kitten packing a roll of toilet paper as big as it was through the house back in the late 1990s, it would have broken the Internet, it was so cute.

[Rothman]

What exactly does TikTok offer that other social media platforms don’t?  From what I can surmise TikTok is mainly just short videos mostly posted by kids doing song routines.

TikTok has evolved a lot from kids "flossing."  I avoided it for quite a while, but then my daughter got me somewhat hooked on it and we share funny videos back and forth.  The breadth of the topics covered on TikTok is pretty incredible...but like I implied before, it's just as brain melting as the boob tube ever was.

[J N Winkler]

What exactly does TikTok offer that other social media platforms don’t?  From what I can surmise TikTok is mainly just short videos mostly posted by kids doing song routines.

It's gone well beyond kids and songs.  There is now "BookTok," consisting of short videos of people discussing books they like, which has given authors like Colleen Hoover and Emily Henry a strong sales boost.  I can't point to any specific examples at present (and my mind rebels at the idea of going to one social media platform to search for content hosted on another), but I have already seen a few TikToks on highway topics in the Facebook road-related groups.  A few have actually been not bad.

[Bruce]

Note that TikTok and its Chinese counterpart (Douyin) show vastly different content to children.

[paulthemapguy]

TikTok is literally a platform for short videos.

That's all it is.  Whatever you can do in a short video, it has been done on TikTok.

[Scott5114]

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

I'm not a big video fan, either. (With one exception...)

Before I read the rest of your post, my first reaction was "US Fed'ral Route 31-dub?"

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

I'm not a big video fan, either. (With one exception...)

Before I read the rest of your post, my first reaction was "US Fed'ral Route 31-dub?"

Hey, are you guys trying to get Calrog to copyright claim the forum or something?

[Scott5114]

I don't have any interest in TikTok because I dislike consuming video and have little interest in creating it, and so a social media platform where the only media that can be posted is video carries zero appeal to me. All the good TikToks get reposted to other sites, anyway.

I'm not a big video fan, either. (With one exception...)

Before I read the rest of your post, my first reaction was "US Fed'ral Route 31-dub?"

Hey, are you guys trying to get Calrog to copyright claim the forum or something?

Fair use for the purposes of criticism or commentary!

[XamotCGC]

Tik Tok ads on youtube.  Ugh

[mgk920]

My only exposure to USA-based Tik Tok clips is second hand via 'manosphere' YT clips, showing sadly dysfunctional younger wimmin whining abut their relational failures.  Not worth my giving so much of my personal data to the CCP.

Mike

[Rothman]

My only exposure to USA-based Tik Tok clips is second hand via 'manosphere' YT clips, showing sadly dysfunctional younger wimmin whining abut their relational failures.  Not worth my giving so much of my personal data to the CCP.

Mike

Of course, the algorithm shows you what your preferences desire.

Don't like what you see?  Change the channel (i.e., swipe).  You'll soon get cute animal videos.

[vdeane]

I can watch good cat videos for hours. And I wish video had been as readily available back when we had some of our cats and kittens years ago. If I'd been able to get a video of the kitten packing a roll of toilet paper as big as it was through the house back in the late 1990s, it would have broken the Internet, it was so cute.

TikTok certainly has cat videos, that's for sure.  My coworker found some on extension cord safety.  No joke.
https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicaandthebabyboo/video/7190042282358279467
https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicaandthebabyboo/video/7107217219880324398
https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicaandthebabyboo/video/7103562954557312302

[Rothman]

Detroit-style pizza.