Douyin vs.TikTok: A Comparison of Contentโ and Concerns
Recent discussions,โ including claims by French President Macron, have centered on potentialโค differences in content presented by โคDouyin (the Chinese โขversion of TikTok) and โTikTok itself, particularly for younger users. Investigations suggest that, at least in testing scenarios, Douyin appearsโ to prioritize more educationalโ content than TikTok.
Content for Younger Users:
Euronews’ fact-checking โteam, theโ Cube, tested both โplatformsโ by creating profiles for 13-year-old users.โฃ Douyin’s โคfeed initially showcased primarilyโ educational videos – demonstrations โฃof simple science experiments (like an egg in vinegar), English lessons, music instruction, and cooking tutorials. Douyin alsoโฃ offers parental controls allowing specific contentโค preferences to โคbe set for users under 14, tailoring the algorithm accordingly.
In contrast, TikTok’s under-14 version presented more recreational and entertainment-focused content, including viral dances and humorous clips, some described as lacking ample value. โHowever, TikTok does โhost numerous creators โdedicated to educational content, such as @aartemisatworks and @serialthinker. TikTok also features a “TikTok for Younger Users” mode withโค stricter privacy settings, limited screen time, and โrestrictions on interactionโ features for users โฃunder 13,โฃ while still allowing creative expression. โ As 2024,TikTok has also offered a dedicated “STEMโฃ feed” for users aged 13 โandโฃ over,focusing on science,technology,engineering,and mathematics.
When accessed inโ “adult mode,” both Douyin and TikTok display a similar range of content, from educational โmaterial to โentertainment. though,Douyin operates under the censorship regulations imposed by the Chineseโ government.
Concernsโฃ Regarding โChinese Influence โ& Data Security:
The question of whether China is utilizing TikTok as a tool for soft โคpower has gained traction, stemming largely from a 2022 60โฃ Minutes โฃinterview with Tristan Harris of the Center โfor Humane Technology. Harris cited a 2019 Harris Pollโ comparing aspirations of children in the US and China, โขnoting “influencer” was the most common response in the US,โค while “astronaut” was most popular in China.
Political figuresโฃ have voiced concerns โabout potential access to user data and espionage. In December 2022, Forbes reported โthat TikTok employees had tracked journalistsโฃ using theโฃ app’s geolocation tools, leading to admissions of wrongdoing and staff dismissals.
These concerns are โขrooted inโฃ China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, โคwhich mandates cooperationโ between Chinese companies and state intelligence services when requested. This law theoretically extends to data collected byโข Chinese companies operating internationally,โ even if data servers are located elsewhere.
Inโฃ response to theseโ security concerns,theโ European Commission and European Parliament banned TikTok installations โคon staff work devices โฃin 2023 to safeguard institutional data.
