I woke up this morning to discover someone is impersonating me on TikTok.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese company ByteDance. According to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Beijing-based ByteDance is “beholden to the Communist Party of China and required by the Chinese law to comply with the PCR’s surveillance demands.”
According to TikTok’s disclosure, the data it collects may include biometric information such as faceprints and voiceprints, as well as the usual information like IP address, geolocation-related data, and browsing and search history. It also collects keystroke patterns and rhythms.
After years of criticism over data security, TikTok established a server in the US but later acknowledged that China-based employees can access US user data. The FCC has called on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores for “its pattern of surreptitious data practices”, saying that ByteDance can’t be trusted with US users’ data. Australian user data security is also in doubt. The UK, Italy, and Ireland have launched investigations into TikTok concerning the protection of minors’ data and transfers of personal data to China. India banned TikTok in June 2020.
The disruptive power of TikTok
TikTok is huge. It’s the fifth-largest social media platform, with approximately one billion monthly active users worldwide. The average user opens the app eight times a day and spends 52 minutes each day on TikTok.
TikTok is one of the most disruptive social media platforms. Last year, one teenager’s viral TikTok video disrupted about 4,600 research studies. Viral #WitchTok videos on Carnelian and Moldavite dramatically impacted local shops and supplies.
I didn’t join TikTok for a few reasons. I trust it even less than I do Google and Facebook. I don’t create videos, and I’m satisfied consuming video content on other platforms. TikTok videos make it to other platforms anyway. And TikTok’s primary audience is young. About 62% of all US TikTok users are between 10 and 29 years old. But someone else decided to join TikTok and use my full name and the profile photo I currently use on my networks.
Report a fake account on TikTok
I reported the account impersonating me and would appreciate it if you would too.
Please report tiktok.com/@cosettepaneque
- Go to the profile.
- Tap the 3-dot icon in the top right.
- Select Report and follow the instructions.
I tried to log in with my details and claim this account but was unsuccessful and ended up creating a TikTok account so that I could keep tabs on it. These scams happen a lot. Instagram spiritual impersonators are rampant, for example. So, I don’t know if TikTok will delete the account impersonating me, but I hope so.
UPDATE: Issue resolved
Today, Saturday, 26 November, I discovered that TikTok transferred the fake account to me.
My friendly blog here alerted me that the TikTok link above was broken. I discovered the link was broken, but the profile was still there. It was, however, transferred to me. It was now attached to my email, and I could reset the password and log in. I unfollowed everyone (though my profile says otherwise) and deleted the account I created to follow the impersonator. I never heard from TikTok support.
So, now that’s me. I have a TikTok account.
