The government of India announced a ban on 59 Chinese apps on 29th June 2020. A day after that TikTok was taken down from Apple App Store and Google Play store. Although if you have it downloaded on your phone, you can continue to use it.
Out of these 59 Chinese apps, TikTok has been the one in news the most. It is because it was highly used in India, and the users’ range varied from a common man to a celebrity. Many users had gained popularity basis their content and were referred to as ‘TikTok Influencers’.
Although TikTok’s country head has published a statement announcing that they will be holding a meeting with the government of India to negotiate and assure that TikTok complies with the data privacy and security requirements. Well, to be frank, this is not the first time that TikTok has been banned in India. Previously, the TikTok app was banned for advertising pornography content and over privacy concerns but it was relisted on Play store and App store in a few days. Still, the government is to share as to how it intends to administer the ban this time.
The list of all the 59 Chinese apps that were banned includes:
TikTok, Shareit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browers, Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser, ROMWE, Club Factory, Newsdog, Beutry Plus, WeChat, UC News, QQ Mail, Weibo, Xender, QQ Music, QQ Newsfeed, Bigo Live, SelfieCity, Mail Master, Parallel Space, Mi Video Call – Xiaomi, WeSync, ES File Explorer, Viva Video – QU Video Inc, Meitu, Vigo Video, New Video Status, DU Recorder, Vault-Hide, Cache Cleaner DU App studio, DU Cleaner, DU Browser, Hago Play With New Friends, Cam Scanner, Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile, Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder, QQ Player, We Meet, Sweet Selfie, Baidu Translate, Vmate, QQ International, QQ Security Center, QQ Launcher, U Video, V fly Status Video, Mobile Legends, and DU Privacy
Even though there have been major alternatives for TikTok, but yes, there were many users who lost their popularity and even their business because of the ban. It implies that there are both pros and cons to this situation. We’ve listed some below:
Pros:
- TikTok’s privacy policy clearly states that they can sell the user’s data. You can confirm the same by clicking here. So, banning it might save your data and privacy.
- International specialists even claimed it to be similar to Cambridge Analytica. Before 2019, their privacy policy mentioned that “We will also share your information with any member or affiliate of our group, in China, for the purposes set out above, to assist in the improvement and optimization of the Platform, to prevent illegal uses, increase user numbers, development, engineering and analysis of information or for our internal business purposes.” You can learn more through this article.
- The youth will be able to utilize other platforms to create better content.
Cons:
- Apart from the usual cringe content, some users displayed their creativity with their content. It might affect their hard work and popularity.
- TikTok influencers who had established themselves as a proper celebrity and started capitalizing their popularity have been severely affected. They’ll now have to start from scratch.
- Though there are Indian platforms for creating similar content they might not have the same effects or technology that was present in TikTok.
We support the Indian government’s decision of banning Chinese apps and we hope that India can create its applications having the same spirit to shift the paradigm away from Chinese apps.
