The regulation of Social Media Influencers

by 
Goanta, Catalina; 
Ranchordás, Sofia

Elgar law, technology and society., 2020

Booth, Robert.The Guardian (Online), London (UK): Guardian News & Media Limited. Nov 4, 2019.

Tristan Harris was a major contributor to the documentary. He studied the ethics of persuasion at Stanford University and worked as a design ethicist with Google. He resigned from google in 2013. He is co founder of the Centre For Humane Technology which is a non profit organisation that aims to highlight the dangers of digital technology and find alternatives which will protect and support public wellbeing.

Justin Rosenstein was the inventor of Facebook's "like" button. He explained that the button was intended to "spread positivity."  Users would create content and then monitor their likes. Other users could "like" posts to show their approval which initiated a good feeling. 
However this button has the power to influence behaviour.  Users may become anxious waiting for others to engage becoming dependent on public approval. If the post doesn't get the number of likes expected, it may lead to disappointment and be perceived as a failure. This can influence self esteem which may lead to negative feelings of low self worth.  Unconsciously users may be seeking external validation. The danger in that they are becoming dependent on social approval and giving control of their emotions to an external source. These  feelings may then cause them to amend their behavior in order to attract more likes. The reality being the algorithm now has the control and can modify behavior.

Several contributors to the documentary had safeguards in place concerning their own families including limited or no screen time for their children. 



.

Eunjin (Anna) Kim,
Margaret Duffy &
Esther Thorson 2015

Henrique Muzzio, Manuella Gama 

ISSN: 2059-5891

 

Tik Tok is a social media platform used to discover, create and share short videos. As with all social media platforms, users must be aware that information shared or collected online can never be fully deleted. Although content or personal information can be taken down or deleted from the original platform, it may already have been shared with other users and platforms. You can’t fully take back this information. It is out of your control. There are however steps you can take to protect your privacy when using Tik Tok and other social media platforms.

 

It is important for you to know

       What information is collected by TIK TOK?

       Why is information collected by TIK TOK?

       Who has access to this information?

       How to delete content or close an account?

       What can you do to maintain your privacy when using Tik Tok?

 

Tik Tok collects the personal information that you use to register for an account [ Name, email, phone number, birthday, username, password, Bio, profile picture]

 

Users can register for a Tik Tok account by using their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or email accounts. These platforms will also have access to your personal information.

 

Tik Tok collects content as you create or import it. Content can be collected before you save or upload it.

 

Tik Tok collects data about the videos you watch, upload and share.                     [ Topic, likes, preferences, comments]

 

Tik Tok saves the content of your direct messages and the metadata associated with those messages [Who did you contact? What time did you send the message? Did they reply?]

 

Tik Tok collects information on your payment card and other third-party payments such as pay pal. It also collects your transaction and purchase history

 

Tik Tok has access to your camera, microphone, contacts, location and Clipboard. 

 

Tik Tok collects information about the devices you are using                       [Mobile phone, tablet, laptop or computer].                                                                                

 

Tik Tok assigns a device ID and user ID when you log in to use the platform. It can track your activity over multiple devices.

 

Tik Tok uses Cookies which automatically collect information, measure and analyse which websites and ads you click on and how you use TikTok

 

If you live in the European Economic Area, the UK, or Switzerland, TikTok Technology Limited, an Irish company (“TikTok Ireland”), and TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited (“TikTok UK”), a UK company,are the joint controllers of any information you have shared on the platform

 

Tik Tok funds its platform through advertisements and by making your data available to interested parties. Your data is an extremely valuable commodity for manufacturers, service providers, organizations, political parties etc.

 

Tik Tok is a free mobile social media app which is made possible through the sharing of data and targeted advertisements.

 

Tik Tok collects data to create personal profiles so that it can direct service providers and advertisers to the specific demographic they wish to connect with. This targeted messaging and advertising gives much better results and Tik Tok monetises this. 

 

Tik Tok uses the information it collects to provide you with videos and advertisements that are specifically chosen relating to your interests. 

 

Tik Tok collects and saves data to make your experience of the platform more time efficient [You don’t have to re-enter the same information multiple times when using Tik Tok].

 

Tik Tok can use the data it collects to innovate and develop its platform to suit users interests and lifestyles.

 

Your personal data and information can be shared in multiple ways.

 

Tik Tok can share your personal data and information with its corporate group as necessary.

 

Tik Tok will share your personal data and information with organisations and service providers that enable Tik Tok to provide its service to you. 

 

          Payment processors

          Customer and technical support 

          Research providers 

          Cloud providers 

          Advertisers 

          Marketers 

          Analytics vendors

          

 

Third parties can also gain access to your personal data and information when you 

 

          Log in [Google, Facebook]

          Use your Tik Tok account to log in to other platforms                                

          Make a payment [Paypal]

          Share user content with other platforms

 

Tik Tok may also share your information and data if requested by legal representatives or government bodies.

          

Your profile information and user content may be visible to other platform users and the public depending on privacy settings

 

If you would like to delete your Tik Tok account.

 

            Open Tik Tok 

            Press the profile icon on the bottom right

            Press the three-line icon top right

            Press settings and privacy

            Press manage account > delete account

            Press skip if you would like to skip the exit survey

            Confirm you have reviewed your data request and wish to continue and 

            wish to continue deleting your account

            Then press continue

 

Once the account has been deleted, it will be displayed as deactivated for thirty days. Users will not be able to access videos or likes on Tik Tok. The account will be permanently deleted after thirty days. Personal data, content and information that has been previously shared before deletion of the account will still exist but will not be visible on Tik Tok.

 

If you would like to delete a video on TikTok

 

            Open Tik Tok

            Press the profile icon on the bottom right

            Press the three-line icon top right

            Scroll through options > select delete

            Press delete again when prompted to confirm

 

 

Once a Tik Tok account is created, it is set to public by default. This means uploaded videos can be viewed by other users. However, if you set your account to private you can choose who you would like to share videos with.

 

You can also adjust your privacy settings so that only friends you have chosen can comment, no one can comment or if your video is public everyone can comment.

 

If you would like to make your Tik Tok account private. 

 

            Open Tik Tok

            Press profile bottom right

            Press the three-line icon top right

            On the settings and privacy page, press privacy

            Turn private account off

 

Avoid linking your account to other platforms [Facebook, Google] 

 

You can include a Bio in your profile. Do you want to share this information? 

 

Do you want to share your profile picture?

 

You can choose to turn personalised advertisements on or off

 

If you would like to turn personalised ads off

 

            Open Tik Tok 

            Press profile bottom right

            Press the three-line icon top right

            On the settings and privacy page, press privacy

            Go to personalise and data

            Turn personalised ads off

 

You can request your data to see what data Tik Tok is collecting from you

 

If you would like to request your data from Tik Tok

 

            Open Tik Tok 

            Press profile bottom right

            Press the three-line icon top right

            On the settings and privacy page, press privacy

            Go to personalise and data

            Press download data

 

It is important to educate everyone including children about privacy. Children can impulsively upload videos or comments which they later regret. Content shared online is there forever. It is also important to remember if you set a Tik Tok account to private, you choose who you would like to share your content with but Tik Tok and other third parties will still have access to your content and other data.

 

Think before sharing your personal information. Be aware of data that is being collected about you. If you want to maintain your privacy online, be aware and limit the information that you share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I began this policy by issuing a warning of the dangers involved in disclosing information on this Platform. I felt that most users would read the first paragraph no matter the time constraints so it seemed the best way to communicate the dangers effectively.

I included a simplified summary of how data is collected on Tik Tok. I mentioned that data was shared with third parties however as these parties are not directly named we don’t really know who can see it. I included how to delete content.

 

The majority of the data that I left out related to specific legal obligations. I chose to leave out this technical legal jargon – because most people don’t want an explanation of the minutiae of their rights as defined in law – they want a simple clear explanation which clarifies their rights in a general way. It is practical and useful information which is accessible to the non- legally trained mind that should be conveyed at the outset – perhaps in addition to the legal terms.