Geopolitics, Privacy, and User Trust: TikTok

The paper uses a thorough review of the current literature, governmental materials, and information available on ByteDance as the major source for analyzing the link between geopolitical aspects, privacy concerns, and user engagement with businesses. The study found that the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s data usage and the ongoing tensions between China and the United States leads to a decline in user trust. This is particularly evident in the e-commerce sector, where individual privacy concerns directly affect customers’ buying habits and commercial involvement. This phenomenon would directly impact TikTok’s international e-commerce expansion, as well as user engagement on the platform; ultimately affect the platform’s overall growth and revenue potential. The paper concludes with recommendations for enhancing data privacy on TikTok such as reducing data collection from minors, putting stricter regulations on third-party data access and being more transparent about their data policies.