What You Need to Know About TikTok, the Chinese Communist Party, and Your Online Presence
In recent months, TikTok has dominated headlines—not just for viral dances or trending sounds, but for serious concerns about data privacy and international influence. At the center of it all? TikTok’s connection to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
As the founder of Created Photography, I care deeply about how individuals and businesses show up online. Whether you’re using TikTok, LinkedIn, or Instagram, your online presence matters—and so does your awareness of the platforms you use to build it.
So let’s break it down:
What’s the Concern with TikTok?
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China. While TikTok has stated repeatedly that it stores U.S. data outside of China and maintains operational independence, concerns persist—especially about:
• User data being accessed by the Chinese government
• The platform’s potential to influence public opinion or suppress content
• How business and personal data may be used in ways that users don’t fully understand
Why It Matters for Professionals
If you’re a business owner, content creator, or professional using TikTok, your digital presence is part of your brand. But using a platform without fully understanding its policies or risks could damage your credibility—or worse, your security.
That doesn’t mean everyone should abandon TikTok. But it does mean you should:
• Know where your content lives and who can access it.
• Understand how data is stored and shared.
• Evaluate whether the platform aligns with your brand’s values and goals.
What You Can Do
1. Stay Informed: Follow reliable news outlets that cover digital security and global tech trends.
2. Use a Mix of Platforms: Don’t rely on just one social media app to build your brand.
3. Take Ownership of Your Image: Make sure your brand visuals—your headshot, your videos, your posts—exist outside of a single app.
Why This Matters to Me as a Photographer
You don’t have to be a political analyst to care about where your brand lives online. As a visual storyteller, I help people and businesses create professional, authentic imagery that lives across all platforms. Whether you’re on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn—or pivoting away from certain apps—your content should be professional, evergreen, and yours to control.
Let’s Talk About Your Online Image
Need help building a strong, secure, and stunning visual identity across platforms? I’d love to help.
Book a call with me:
https://calendly.com/createdphotography/30-minute-introductory-call-or-zoom
Learn more about my services:
https://www.createdphotography.com