Written by Marley Robinson
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Written and directed by Shalini Kantayya, the Sundance documentary Tik Tok Boom explores the technological infrastructure behind the booming app, Tik Tok, and its negative implications. Formerly named Bytedance, the Chinese-based tech company behind Tik Tok merged with the app Musically in 2017 to create a video-oriented experience for young users. Recently passing Google as the most visited domain, Tik Tok is more than just funny videos. Tik Tok Boom explores pressing questions, including:
Are children safe using Tik Tok?
Am I actively participating in a national security breach?
Should I be posting possibly sensitive information on the internet?
The app not only reportedly poses cyber security issues but is also rumored to censor videos that go against or might be seen as a threat to the Chinese Communist Party, as Tik Tok’s management is based in China. Managing its social and political profile, content that can be seen as threatening is taken down. Also known as “shadowbanning,” users have described having their content be censored as a result of their material being seen as threatening. These authoritarian conflicts are not a new matter as the Chinese government’s corruption has been a prime issue concerning the United States for decades. Shared media from two countries with opposing political views could cause potential clashes and the documentary illustrates that in this arena, “China is a real force to be reckoned with.”
Tik Tok is not the only app that is rumored to take private data. Many apps based in Silicon Valley have been under scrutiny are known for waging similarly predatory behaviors including Facebook and Instagram owned under Meta. Director Kantayya believes that “data [has become] the new oil” and also addresses how socio-political structures are represented on the app. As Gen Z, the target generation for these platforms, Tik Tok content often has political implications aimed towards young people.
As a Teen Council member, I recognize that many people do not understand the sociopolitical implications of youth culture issues within society. As I grow older, I am starting to understand my place in the world and how my age affects how people perceive me. Although I don’t actively post on Tik Tok, I am learning how the political and social algorithms are directed at me as an individual and as a member of Gen Z. I see the algorithmic disadvantages and how content creators are concerned about censorship. I am constantly pressing “not interested” on videos to perfect my algorithm to watch things that interest me. While political movements on Tik Tok are progressive, with the addition of algorithms, they are almost counterintuitive. Often being shown content that confirms your bias, the app can further separate users into groups, and only show them opinions they already have. It is a double edge sword in the sense that while Tik Tok is an app celebrated for its leftist ideologies, it also contributes to disputes and sometimes incites violence. Kantayya shows the reality of tech advancements within youth culture. In my generation, many concepts have become politicized and discussions have become impacted by polarization. With the knowledge I have gathered from being a user, I believe that the app creates apathy between people and further negatively affects adolescents by being a pool of hatred rather than kindness. Creators can become viral in as little as a few hours, and with that comes the burden of hate comments that are inevitable with popularity. As cyber structures advance, people start to wonder what that means for geopolitical conflicts and whether or not they are a pawn in the chaos that comes with a booming app like TikTok.
