- America has the highest number of TikTok users at 136.5 million.
- The controversy of data leakage surrounds TikTok.
- The US keenly monitors TikTok to avoid security incidents.
Americans are embracing various social platforms for entertainment, education, and information. TikTok appears to have stolen the hearts of many people in the US. According to BanklessTimes.com, America has 136.5 million TikTok users, which is 27% more than the next highest country. The app is quickly becoming a sensation among young people as it offers a variety of content.
Speaking on the data, Jonathan Merry, CEO of BanklessTimes, said,
The data is a testament to the TikTok's popularity in the country. It has managed to break into the American market and capture a sizable audience. The app is here to stay, and we expect its user base to continue growing. Besides, the social app doesn't have advertisements that disrupt viewers.BanklessTimes CEO, Jonathan Merry
TikTok dominance in the US began in 2018 after merging with Musical.ly. Before that, the platform had less than 10M active monthly users.
The US not only leads in the number of TikTok users, but the five most followed TikTokers are also located in America. Other countries that follow the US in the number of TikTok users are Indonesia (99.07million) and Brazil (73.58 million) users, Russia (51.3 million), Mexico (50.52 million), Vietnam (45.82 million), and the Philippines (40.36 million).
Controversies Are Not Deterring Tiktok’s Growth
TikTok's growth has been seamless from the start despite a string of controversies surrounding the app.
The app has been in the news for the wrong reasons after accusations that it is a national security threat. The US government is closely monitoring TikTok to avoid any security incidents. In 2019, the US Army, Navy, and Marines banned the social app on government-issued phones. The decision was made after security concerns were raised about the app.
Due to a military feud, the platform lacks political goodwill to access India's largest market. TikTok is also facing backlash on how it handles data. For instance, recent reports indicated that American user data is accessed in Mainland China.
However, TikTok has distanced itself from allegations of leaking data to the Chinese government. Their chief operating officer assured the senate that no senior staff from TikTok is close to the Chinese communist party. Despite the assurance, there are silent whispers about the Chinese ruling party micromanaging companies.
It has concerned many that most users rely on TikTok for news as the news is untrustworthy in most cases. TikTok is known to be full of conspiracy theories and health and political misinformation, much like other platforms.
There is an outcry that TikTok is censoring information discriminatively. Among the content that TikTok has been censored include those criticizing the China government. The topics span from the Pro-democracy demonstration in Hong Kong, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and Tibetan Independence.
America’s Keen on TikTok to Avoid Any Security Lapses
Experts and legislators in the US concur that additional regulation on TikTok is necessary. Yet, there is a considerable dispute about the regulatory oversight TikTok has received. The disagreement points to exaggerated rules compared to competitors like Twitter, Facebook, and Google.
TikTok's association with China is among the concerns America holds. They feel TikTok challenges are unique. To them, the platform is a primary national security concern.
In light of the controversies and data leakages, the US government has been monitoring TikTok operations. The app store even removed it from their platforms for a while. Although it has been reinstated, its future in the American market is still under scrutiny. Besides, various organizations have called for a ban on TikTok, including the Federal Communications Commission.
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