MACON, Ga. — More than 170 million Americans use TikTok to post videos and make a living off brand deals, getting posts with millions of likes. In recent years, Johnathan Yerby said lawmakers agree that pulling it is a matter of national security.
"This is really a giant spy program," Yerby said.
Yerby is an associate professor for the Computer Science Department at Mercer University. He says TikTok is more dangerous than other social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
"TikTok takes it to a further level of collecting much more information and collecting things that make it easier for them to spy on you or even easier for them to clone your phone, clone your personality, clone you," Yerby said.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance one of China's largest tech companies. The private company will soon be under surveillance and some authority of the Chinese government.
A revised 1988 Chinese law will take effect Wednesday that allows the Chinese government to protect state secrets, but that doesn't only apply to government employees anymore.
"Privately owned businesses and foreign invested business so that language is in there and so what could they be talking about? It's got to be things like TikTok," Yerby said.
Yerby said he understands the app has provided people business and a source of income. People like Mike Clark Jr., who said TikTok helped jumpstart his career.
"TikTok, like, changed my life as well because the more you post, the more fans you get and it's different people all over the world," Clark said.
Three years ago, Clark worked at Applebee's and started posting videos singing. Now, the Southern Soul and R&B signer from East Macon is on tour with a record deal, Clark said. He doesn't think he'd be here without the app.
"I don't really think so because TikTok is the reason I got my record deal. And you know, I'm saying if it weren't for TikTok, I don't know where I'd be right now," Clark said.
With the new law, Clark said he's trying to expand his following to other platforms in case TikTok's time runs out.
"They're rolling over to Instagram a little but I mean TikTok is that main platform right now," Clark said.
One of the most alarming things the app does is collect users' keystroke patterns or rhythms. Basically, it collects what you do on your phone even if you're not using the app.
"They need access to all your files so if you're comfortable giving all that away, keep going," Yerby said.
Yerby said if you have the app then a lot of your information is already out there. To prevent future data sharing, Yerby said you should delete your account, then the app and do a factory reset of your phone.
You can find a list of all the information TikTok collects in their privacy policy on their website. They continue to make updates, but only have you agree when you initially create an account.
The U.S. law now gives ByteDance nine months to sell the company with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. If that doesn't happen, the ban will take effect.
The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre maintains they don't want to see a ban.
"This is not about a ban. This is about divestment, selling, right being sold. This is about our national security. This is not concerned about Americans using TikTok," Jean-Pierre said.