Media tip sheet: Colorado State University experts available to discuss TikTok
Published: March 21, 2023 1:30 PM
Contact for reporters:
Allison Sylte
(720)-849-1907
[email protected]
Note to reporters: As the U.S. government continues to investigate the national security concerns surrounding TikTok, numerous Colorado State University experts are available to discuss the data privacy and cultural issues surrounding the hugely popular app.
Associate professor of Political Science, Colorado State University College of Liberal Arts
An expert on international issues, Peter Harris said that while competition with China is much discussed, it is not often felt in the everyday lives of ordinary Americans. A TikTok ban would make this much more tangible – and could turn it into a global issue. And while TikTok might seem like a trivial app full of dance videos, Harris said the current dialogue surrounding it could be considered part of a wider and alarming trend in international relations revealing a lack of trust between the world’s two most important nations.
Professor of Marketing, Colorado State University College of Business
Kelly Martin’s research focuses on data privacy, and she can speak to what makes TikTok potentially more invasive than other social media apps – in fact, she compared it to carrying a Chinese surveillance balloon in your pocket. Even though there are some measures users can take to limit what information certain apps gather from their phones, Martin said it might be time for a national reckoning about the government’s role in data privacy in a digital space.
Assistant professor of Computer Information Systems, Colorado State University College of Business
Hamed Qahri-Saremi studies the intersection between social media and human behavior. His previous research has found that people inevitably react more to negative than positive content – which might be the reason behind some allegations that TikTok is making Americans dumber. Qahri-Saremi can also discuss TikTok’s unique algorithm and how it manages to hook users for as long as possible.
Professor and associate chair of Computer Science, Colorado State University College of Natural Sciences
Indrajit Ray’s research focuses on data privacy and security. He has over 25 years of research experience in this area and has also advised the U.S. federal government on the science of cybersecurity and privacy. He can discuss various safeguards that people can take and technological solutions they can adopt to reduce their digital footprint from the likes of TikTok. He said he finds it amazing and difficult to reconcile that when people hear news about the government’s surveillance of citizens’ activities, there is widespread condemnation and protests and call for congressional oversight, but when social media giants and other private companies routinely perform more intrusive surveillance of people’s lives and misuse that data without enough checks and balances, most hardly bat an eyelid.
Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Communication, Colorado State University College of Liberal Arts
David Wolfgang is available to discuss the social and cultural influences of TikTok – specifically, how it creates spaces for alternative discourse and provides an online haven for marginalized communities. He can also speak to TikTok as a vital source for critical information – especially news – for Generation Z.
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Communication, Colorado State University College of Liberal Arts
Tori Arthur’s research explores TikTok’s evolution from solely an entertainment platform to one used for sociopolitical and sociocultural conversations related to race, gender, sexuality, citizenship, disability and more. This comes as a growing number of activists, politicians and candidates are using TikTok to reach younger audiences, making it a space for conversations around what some call “culture wars.” She can also discuss how users from around the world use TikTok to raise awareness about social movements, often modeling their efforts on how they see U.S.-based creators using the platform.