The Scary Reason You Should Delete This One iPhone App For Your Safety, Tech Experts Warn

Be Careful With TikTok

TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the world, but it collects a surprising amount of data from its users. Beyond the videos you like and post, TikTok tracks things like your location, device information, browsing history, and even how long you watch certain types of content. It may also access your contacts, microphone, and camera, depending on the permissions you’ve given. All of this information helps TikTok personalize your feed—but it also creates a profile about you and, if that profile falls into the wrong hands, it can be bad for your safety and security.

The concern is that once this data is collected, it doesn’t always stay as private as you’d hope. Hackers can target platforms like TikTok to steal personal information, and in some cases, data can be shared with third parties. If that data ends up in the wrong hands, it could lead to phishing attempts, identity theft, or even location tracking without your knowledge. The more data you're giving away—especially without realizing it—the more vulnerable you could become.

The only true way to protect yourself is to delete TikTok. But if you enjoy using TikTok and don’t want to delete it, there are still steps you can take to protect your information. First, review your privacy settings in the app and limit what TikTok can access—like turning off location services and restricting permissions to your microphone and contacts unless you’re actively using them. Be cautious about what you share in your videos and comments, and avoid clicking on suspicious links in messages. 

Also: only use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication for extra security. These small changes can go a long way in helping you keep your personal data safer.