A long-negotiated deal between the U.S. and China was finalized and a new American owned TikTok was launched. Yet not without its issues. Beyond the technical problems, the main concern with the new U.S. TikTok is regarding trust and privacy. You may recall that originally Trump wanted to ban TikTok from the U.S. over concerns for national security. Then in 2024 Biden signed bipartisan legislation ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban. Well, it seems that privacy violations are still occurring with the new American owned TikTok.

It’s a well-known fact that when users of the original version of the app opted in, they knew they were giving the Chinese government access to their information. ByteDance made it very clear in the user agreement that personal information could be accessed through the user’s device. Yet no one cared. Nearly 2 billion people use TikTok regularly, 170 million from the U.S. 

The new TikTok just launched and U.S. users have even bigger privacy and trust concerns. Once again, the user agreement makes it clear that if you use the app they have right to use your information – but they won’t sell it, they will just share it. The app can track precise user location. Not just a ballpark guess of “somewhere in Charlotte, N.C.” but down to the exact street address. There have been complaints about censorship. Users who are anti-Trump can’t seem to post. Anti-ICE videos aren't being published. Considering the owners of the new TikTok the complaints of censorship don't come as a surprise.

When Trump got in office a second time he changed his tune about TikTok and gathered his friends to buy the company. They may say it is now U.S. owned, but it isn’t – not really. ByteDance, the Chinese owned company, remains the largest stakeholder. The other investors are friends of Trump and owners of well-known companies like Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake. Just as you would with the original TikTok, use the new American owned TikTok at your own risk.