Does TikTok Have a Misinformation Problem? Data Say Yes
Reports show that the app has been quietly pushing misinformation for years
In March 2024, politicians on both sides of the aisle found a policy issue on which they stand united — the need for action against TikTok.
Ever since its release in September 2016, the social media platform has been one of the most downloaded apps in the United States, mostly by young users. Recent data shows at least 44% of its users are under 24. Owned by Chinese tech conglomerate ByteDance, TikTok boasts “1.5 billion monthly active users in 2023 and is expected to reach 1.8 billion by the end of 2024.” Its impressive rise to the top of the social media world has led to increased scrutiny as lawmakers not just in the U.S. but across Europe and Canada as well, have expressed concerns regarding the cybersecurity threats the app may pose to users. This has led to the proposed ban on the app which passed in the House of Representatives but has since stalled in the Senate.
As of now, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. High profile experts have touted the problems that the platform may pose. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified in front of Congress last year stating that the app “screams out with national security concerns” due to its ties to China’s…
