What’s your take on TikTok and its effect on online privacy?

[evelyngrace]

Hi all,

I’ve seen a lot of debates around TikTok, especially about how it collects data and the way its algorithm shapes what people see. Since Mozilla has always pushed for an open and transparent web, I wanted to ask this community:

Do you think TikTok is raising new privacy challenges, or is it just another example of the same issues we already face with other social platforms?

Also, with the rise of variations like TikTok 18 that is alternative version of official TikTok, which often operate outside of the main app ecosystem and may not follow the same data protection or security standards, do you think these unofficial versions increase the risks for users even more?

And do you see any role for browsers, extensions, or open-source projects in helping users deal with this?

Looking forward to hearing different viewpoints.

[evelyngrace]

Just to add a bit more context from my side — the reason I brought this up is because I notice a lot of people (especially younger users) don’t really think twice before downloading something like TikTok 18 or other modded versions. The official TikTok already raises plenty of privacy concerns, but these alternatives sometimes ask for extra permissions or come from sources that aren’t transparent at all.

What makes it trickier is that many of these versions are distributed through third-party app stores rather than the official Google Play or Apple App Store. Unlike the main app stores, which at least have some level of review, third-party stores often don’t apply the same security checks or privacy standards. That means users might be installing apps that could expose more of their personal data without them realizing it.

I’m curious if anyone here has seen any browser tools, privacy-focused extensions, or even community-driven projects that could help reduce some of these risks. Or do you think the responsibility falls more on platforms and app stores to clamp down on these unofficial versions?

[danielmartinhq]

I think TikTok definitely intensified the spotlight on how social apps handle personal data. The level of personalization and algorithmic tracking is impressive, but also a bit unsettling when you realize how precisely the app learns your behavior and preferences. It’s not that other platforms aren’t doing it — TikTok’s just a lot more transparent (or obvious) about it.

Now, about unofficial or alternative apps — things like İnat Box APK are a good example. These kinds of third-party streaming or entertainment apps often exist outside the official app stores, which means they skip the usual security checks from Google Play or the App Store. Users might install them for access to free channels or international content, but the trade-off can be risky — data tracking, hidden ads, or even malware in some cases. Many people don’t realize these APKs can request extensive permissions, giving them access to files, location data, or even network activity.

Browsers and open-source tools definitely have a role here too. Privacy-focused browsers like Firefox (with add-ons like uBlock Origin or NoScript) can help reduce data exposure when visiting unofficial app sites. But once something like İnat Box APK is installed directly on a device, there’s very little protection left — especially since it operates outside the browser sandbox.

[Tina1995]

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[danielmartinhq]

I think TikTok sits in an interesting spot where it’s not doing anything completely new, but it’s doing familiar things at a much larger scale and with less transparency. A lot of social platforms collect aggressive amounts of data, but TikTok’s recommendation system feels especially opaque, which naturally raises more concern—especially for people who don’t realize how quickly the app learns and shapes behavior.

From my own experience, the biggest issue isn’t just data collection, but how little control users actually have over what’s inferred about them. Even if you don’t post much, the algorithm still builds a pretty detailed profile based on watch time, pauses, rewinds, etc. That’s something most users underestimate.

Regarding unofficial versions like TikTok 18, I’d say the risk is definitely higher. These apps often bypass app store reviews, don’t clearly explain what data they collect, and may include extra trackers or permissions that the official app wouldn’t be allowed to use. A lot of people install them thinking they’re just “modified features,” without considering the security trade-off.

Browsers and extensions can help a bit—things like tracker blocking, permission control, and container tabs are useful—but they’re more of a mitigation than a solution. Ultimately, better transparency from platforms and stronger privacy-by-default standards would go further than expecting users to patch things themselves.

Curious to see how others here handle this—especially whether anyone has found practical tools that actually make a noticeable difference.