The recent instability in U.S. politics has been significantly influenced by the  social media platform TikTok. After previously being banned the app found itself freed from the restrictions following Donald Trump’s return to the White House where he signed an executive order suspending the ban. This decision has put pressure on both Congress and the Supreme Court while also bringing joy to the Chinese company which has been hoping for such a reprieve.

Content creators, especially those who thrive on TikTok feel relief from Trump’s decision as the ban could have had devastating consequences for them. However the app continues to be a source of anxiety for many Americans a phenomenon I refer to as.

This fear stems from concerns that TikTok may pose a security risk by gathering personal data from U.S. users. With 170 million users in the U.S. who spend an average of 90 minutes per day on the app more time than most people spend eating or drinking the platform has provided China with a powerful surveillance tool one that once only existed in the imagination of Stalin or James Bond villains.

China has long been engaged in large-scale cyber espionage. In January the FBI reported that a Chinese hacker group known as Mustang Panda had infiltrated thousands of computers to steal sensitive security data. Just a year earlier China conducted a cyberattack that if successful could have crippled key U.S. infrastructure including water supplies, gas pipelines and air traffic control systems.

While some may joke about China’s absurd espionage tactics such as the balloon 2023 it’s crucial to remember that President Xi Jinping has made it clear that his war without smoke strategy is aimed at global dominance. Therefore the threat posed by TikTok should not be underestimated.

TikTok’s parent company has claimed that user data will be stored on U.S. servers. However internal meeting audio that was leaked revealed that Chinese engineers have repeatedly collected information on U.S. users including location and browsing history. With 39% of Americans aged 18-29 (including military personnel and government employees) using TikTok regularly the issue goes beyond mere entertainment and has become a matter of national security.

TikTok’s algorithm not only allows surveillance but also has the potential to influence political discourse in the U.S. A study by the Alliance for Securing Democracy found that TikTok often undermines proper labeling of state-controlled media content leading to the widespread dissemination of Russian propaganda, especially regarding issues like the Ukraine war.

While many content creators worry that forcing to sell TikTok could spell disaster the reality is that there are plenty of popular platforms that could serve as alternatives. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are already attracting massive user bases. In fact when Vine another video platform, shut down in 2017 its creators found new homes on platforms like YouTube Instagram and Snapchat.

In today’s world, information is the most valuable commodity. It is considered the nuclear weapon of the modern age because it can be an incredibly powerful tool. Therefore when a foreign company controls vast amounts of personal data it presents a significant security risk. As a result decisions about TikTok should not be made based on emotions alone, but should instead be approached with careful consideration and prudence.

If Donald Trump moves forward with a deal involving TikTok and U.S. companies it could become one of the largest economic transactions ever possibly exceeding the $101 billion valuation of Spotify and reaching the scale of companies like Netflix and Disney.

Ultimately it is clear that information has become the world’s most important resource and when foreign entities control vast quantities of personal data it becomes a major security concern. Therefore any action regarding TikTok must be taken with extreme caution and deliberation.