TikTok is Digital Fentanyl?

The latest move for a GOP Congressman to get some limelight was to make fantastical and false claims about the mega-popular TikTok platform.

“TikTok is an addictive drug China’s government is providing to Americans,” says the incoming chairman of a new House select committee on China, GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin told NBC’s “Meet The Press.

“TikTok is digital fentanyl. It’s highly addictive and destructive and we’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America, because it effectively goes back to the Chinese Communist Party.” — GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher.

Digital misinformation peddler, Mike Gallagher (photo).

Already the app is banned on some Government devices but it wasn’t enough. He wants it banned from America period.

He contends that the app is not only rotting our minds it digs into the user’s privacy.

I guess other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Twitter don’t do.

The problem is these accusations lack proof.

TikTok is not owned by the Chinese government.

The owner ByteDance is a private, global company, nearly 60% of which is owned by global institutional investors, with the rest owned primarily by the company’s founders and its employees — including thousands of Americans. — TikTok

More allegations include: US policymakers have cited TikTok as a potential national security risk, and critics have said ByteDance could be compelled by Chinese authorities to hand over TikTok data about US citizens or to act as a channel for malign influence operations. — CNN

Security experts have said that the data could let China identify intelligence opportunities or influence Americans through disinformation campaigns. — CNN

Once again, there is no evidence of a secret Chinese plot to overthrow America via TikTok.

I wasn’t a user of TikTok until the writing platform VOCAL MEDIA included a link in my email that published my stories on TikTok and Instagram.

Out of curiosity I posted to TikTok and wondered how non-video content would engage.

To my surprise, the post got about a thousand views.

I also discovered many creators who were using TikTok like a visual blog.

I tried my brand of Mr. Bean-like old man slapstick video and again I was surprised to see my clips were getting views in the thousands.

My TikTok 155k views on the embedded post (last count). Total account 400,000k views since Nov 2022.

I am on Indonesian TikTok, the second largest user base in the world (22 million), and America is first (65 million).

It’s amusing to behold a 69-year-old man going viral in a foreign country and from a cultural anthropology perspective interacting through humor is a great way to communicate with a culture separated by language.

It’s also a great challenge to not only be outside the age demographic but to create content that engages a foreign audience.

The only way to make big money on TikTok is primarily through sponsors and I doubt Medicare is looking for an influencer on TikTok (LOL).

What I hate most about TikTok is not because it’s the latest success story in the attention economy. It’s their Community Guidelines are so strict that many of my clips got rejected.

So, TikTok hosting dangerous, pornographic, and political content is GOP propaganda.

No one on Tiktok is trying to corrupt our minds with subliminal and conspiracy-filled messages. You can watch Fox News for that and media like it is never scrutinized by the GOP.

What the GOP wants is TikTok money.

Let’s face it.

Many American users under 21 have become multi-millionaire creators and everyone from CNN talking heads to major American brands has an account or a presence on it.

Even Governments have a footprint on TikTok.

TikTok — the T-REX of digital marketing.

According to the 2021 Hubspot Blog Research, U.S. marketers intend to invest most of their budgets in the following social media platforms in 2022: TikTok (52% of marketers) Facebook (25% of marketers) YouTube (20% of marketers).

All channels have seen an increase, however, unsurprisingly TikTok takes the crown as the fastest-growing social media channel in 2022. Of the 3,000 participants, 40% state they plan to use TikTok in 2022 as part of their social media strategy.

Mar 3, 2022, Google

Which social media platform has the highest income?

TikTok Is the Social Media Platform with the most opportunities, according to Business Owners. TikTok is the best social media platform for growing audience and revenue according to an exclusive survey of 281 online business owners.

Sep 16, 2022, Google

How much does TikTok pay?

According to Forbes, a TikToker may make between $100,000 and $250,000 for a branded video, with celebrity TikTokers earning up to $750,000 per post.

Earnings are usually determined by engagement rate, which measures how often people interact with your account by liking, commenting, and sharing your videos.

How much does TikTok pay per view?

The company is also paying users directly via its Creator Fund and TikTok Pulse ad program. Payouts from its fund and ad-revenue sharing range between a few cents to around $8 per 1,000 views.

Dec 9, 2022, Google

TikTok has its challenges.

Beside overzealous politicians, they have many complaints from users about being underpaid.

Until the GOP can back any of their conspiracies with facts consider the matter political xenophobic power grab fear mongering.

TikTok is a digital phenomenon.

I don’t know what opportunity TikTok holds for me but I can suggest that in the name of exploring other distribution channels for your content, you might check it out.

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