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TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article

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Introduction

Now, it is difficult to overestimate the influence of social media on the formation of children’s social norms and statuses. One of the most popular apps is TikTok, which has over 2 billion downloads. This figure is enormous, and one can not deny its popularity among the younger generation.

Article Summary

According to the data presented in The Guardian article, the majority of users on this platform are teenagers, specifically more than 59%, which is a remarkable finding (The Guardian, 2020). With such a large user base, it is unsurprising that TikTok can use its data for its own purposes. However, children are at an age where they do not yet understand the seriousness of the issue. In his article, Kari Paul discusses in this analysis that children will not pay attention to the new privacy policy because their age does not allow them to understand the issue’s magnitude (The Guardian, 2020).

Reaction to the Article

I agree with the author’s opinion, as I have often noticed the same attitude in children towards this issue. They are only interested in the entertainment itself, not the methods or conditions of their work. The article’s author notes that despite the political issues between the two major countries regarding their users’ data, people continue to use the application without considering its potential impact on their future security. Unlike adults, who understand how problematic sensitive information can become, children want to have fun, which undoubtedly involves the information they provide to authorities.

One can understand why the U.S. and China argue with each other over the transfer of property and rights, as it involves essentially information about two billion people worldwide, including citizens of both countries. Those who possess this information can use it for selfish purposes, such as commercial exploitation and financial gain. Many have heard that Google services utilize wiretapping to create contextual advertising and for more accurate sales targeting.

The same applies to data from TikTok video views, as based on interests, it will be possible to offer lucrative, targeted advertising offers. In addition, obtaining personal data will mark the acquisition of a more loyal audience willing to collaborate with the app on its terms (The Guardian, 2020). This is confirmed by the survey cited in the analyzed article, as the children interviewed during the study responded that they would continue to use the resource despite the blocking. This also demonstrates the audience’s commitment to the product.

Conclusion

If earlier applications and social networks focused on collecting data about gender, age, preferences, income level, and so on, today there is a demand for more advanced metrics. Big data has become a critical tool for more accurately understanding and working with audiences. TikTok will be able to use the data obtained for its own purposes, such as working with the audience and offering the resulting array of information to advertisers, for example, from the banking sector or various digital services. Thus, one can conclude that the article’s author considers the issue of transferring TikTok’s rights to the American government and its impact on users. In many ways, they are children, so this aspect will not determine whether they use this service.

Reference

The Guardian. (2020). “I don’t care”: young TikTokers unfazed by US furor over data collection | TikTok | The Guardian. Web.

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StudyCorgi. (2026, February 3). TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article. https://studycorgi.com/tiktoks-child-users-and-data-privacy-concerns-insights-from-the-guardian-article/

Work Cited

"TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article." StudyCorgi, 3 Feb. 2026, studycorgi.com/tiktoks-child-users-and-data-privacy-concerns-insights-from-the-guardian-article/.

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References

StudyCorgi. (2026) 'TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article'. 3 February.

1. StudyCorgi. "TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article." February 3, 2026. https://studycorgi.com/tiktoks-child-users-and-data-privacy-concerns-insights-from-the-guardian-article/.


Bibliography


StudyCorgi. "TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article." February 3, 2026. https://studycorgi.com/tiktoks-child-users-and-data-privacy-concerns-insights-from-the-guardian-article/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2026. "TikTok’s Child Users and Data Privacy Concerns: Insights from The Guardian Article." February 3, 2026. https://studycorgi.com/tiktoks-child-users-and-data-privacy-concerns-insights-from-the-guardian-article/.

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