TikTok, or predictions about Asia's leadership in the tech industry.

The rise of short video sharing apps

Amidst a global pandemic that has left millions almost entirely reliant on smartphones for entertainment, the short video sharing app TikTok has quietly risen to the top of the world's technology rankings.

ByteDance (China) launched TikTok – the international version of the video app Douyin – in 2017. In just three years, TikTok became the most downloaded app after years of Facebook's dominance. According to data from mobile analytics firm App Annie, in March 2020 alone, TikTok recorded a record number of downloads, with users spending more time on the social network than in the Stone Age: 2.8 billion hours, equivalent to nearly 320,000 years. Last month, TikTok became the first app not owned by Facebook to surpass 3 billion downloads.

According to data from Sensor Tower, TikTok is now a part of the lifestyle of over 2 billion users worldwide, a large proportion of whom are Gen Z (those born between 1995 and 2012). According to Datareportal 2020, of the 800 million TikTok accounts globally, 41% of users belong to Generation Z.

TikTok's 15-second short video has truly revolutionized content creation globally. We're all familiar with TikTok now, even if we've never used it, through various means, from word of mouth to the media and advertising frenzy over the past year. For example, during the recent Euro tournament, TikTok's logo dominated almost all the advertising billboards in the stadiums.

Will Facebook's golden age repeat itself?

The explosion of TikTok is also reminiscent of the rise of another app more than a decade ago. With 732 million monthly active users, TikTok is the app of the present and clearly will be the app of the future. In other words,TikTok is essentially a new Facebook.

Facebook's presence has been ubiquitous throughout internet history, from its quick and widespread login process to its reminders to change profile pictures for different occasions. Facebook has consistently held a strong position in the technology world. Mark Zuckerberg has spent the past decade researching and refining every option within the app in an effort to keep users engaged. He even acquired Instagram and WhatsApp, transforming Facebook from a simple app capable of only posting photos and messaging into a multi-functional social network catering to all user preferences, from selling products and creating meeting rooms to playing games and even dating.

But in the last two years, Zuckerberg has also recognized the rise of a competitor and its threat to Facebook's already solid position – TikTok. The reality is that users are spending more time on TikTok, and naturally, other established social networks are experiencing a significant decline in traffic and usage time.

One of the most obvious reasons to assert this.TikTok is essentially a new Facebook.This is due to a policy change last May: ByteDance officially released the TikTok login tool. Accordingly, third-party app developers will allow users to log into their apps from their TikTok accounts. In other words, TikTok is set to become a gateway to the rest of the internet. Previously, users could easily log into Spotify, Pinterest, and hundreds of other apps and websites using their Facebook accounts, and TikTok will soon be able to do the same.

The ambition to rewrite the rules of the game on global social media.

TikTok could usher in an era where Asia leads the technology industry. Just as Facebook has shaped the internet, how people interact, access, and even their attitudes towards personal data over the past 20 years, TikTok has the potential to do the same in the next 20 years.

Previously, TikTok only allowed videos up to 15 or 60 seconds long, but now the length has been increased to 3 minutes. While previously TikTok was simply a mobile app, users can now watch videos through a web browser or connect to a smart TV. Previously, TikTok only allowed video, but now it integrates live streaming. With e-commerce shopping becoming a trend, TikTok also allows users to make purchases through the app. And TikTok Stories, inspired by Instagram's Stories feature, is also about to be launched. Certainly, things won't stop here.

TikTok's increasing popularity stems from its combination of features from other popular apps like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Vine. Although often accused of "imitating," TikTok excels at creating a user-friendly experience. With its widespread presence, it's undeniable that TikTok is shaping and redefining the rules of social media globally.

Having gained popularity among Vietnamese users, is TikTok safe?

Officially launched in Vietnam at the end of April 2019, TikTok quickly became one of the most popular social networks among users. In recent rankings of popular apps in the Vietnamese market, TikTok ranked 4th, right after Facebook, Zalo, and Instagram.

However, whether or not to "play" with TikTok remains a controversial topic, especially given the app's numerous scandals regarding data security and privacy. In 2020, TikTok was boycotted in many countries such as the US, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

There have also been numerous security allegations focusing on claims that TikTok is Chinese spyware, stealing data from users' devices and sending it to the Chinese government. While these allegations lack clear evidence, TikTok and ByteDance have demonstrated certain privacy violations. In early June, TikTok was sued for secretly collecting biometric data from underage users without their consent. ByteDance subsequently paid $92 million to settle the lawsuit. Prior to that, TikTok was also accused of secretly collecting information from millions of children in Europe for the benefit of unidentified third parties.

TikTok operates like a highly accurate machine, quickly "scanning" users' interests. You could spend hours on TikTok without getting bored. However, if you find everything on TikTok fun, harmless, and without any precautions, you might be a little too carefree with the app. Because of its unpredictable, spontaneous video recommendations – what will "trend" today and then "spread" widely tomorrow – this social network still carries risks. Some dangers challenging TikTok daily include: harmful challenges that entice users to follow, sexually suggestive content, the presence of perverts, and cyberbullying.

Remember, no one is responsible for what you experience in the virtual space. Therefore, be mindful and wise when using TikTok, as well as any social media platform, to protect your own safety.

Huyen Chau - Photo: Internet