Assalamu alaikum guys,
and peace be upon you all.
So for the past year or so,
we've been on TikTok
trying to push our content
even further.
Alhamdulillah, our page was going
well until this happened.
Hey, Kamal,
you might want to check this out.
What's up?
It says that we've been
permanently banned from TikTok.
We've been banned from TikTok??
We've since made multiple attempts
to contact TikTok, yet
we've been met
with absolutely no response.
So not knowing what else to do.
I've been doing
some research myself
as to what got us banned,
and I've not only
been able to uncover
why we were banned,
but also why
this may have very well
been a good thing.
I mean, I've been able to discover
certain things about this app,
which make it incredibly dangerous,
not only for us at OnePath,
but for you
and almost everyone else
who uses this app.
And in order for you guys
to understand why,
we need to go way back
to the beginning.
But before we do, let TikTok
know what you really think
about their app
by subscribing to our channel
and smashing that like button.
Let's make no mistake.
TikTok is an app
that has dominated the world.
The success
it has experienced
is unparalleled
with over a billion active users.
It is the single most popular
app for those aged
between 10 to 19.
But don't be naive
into thinking that TikTok
is just a fun and innocent place
for teens
to upload videos of themselves
lip synching.
or attempting
the latest viral dance.
The reality of TikTok
is exceptionally dark
and it only begins to reveal itself
when you begin
to look beneath the surface.
So the way TikTok works
is by way of an algorithm
that monitors
the kinds of videos
users interact with,
for how long they do so,
and what kinds of videos
they enjoy.
To better predict
what content to recommend.
It delivers artificial dopamine
with military precision.
And it is the biggest secret as to
why TikTok
is the most engaging
and addictive social media app.
The World has ever seen.
Why don’t you just put
your phone down
for a second,
You’ve just become
so addicted!
Hello! Can you even hear me?
I'm not addicted.
I can stop if I want to.
Then why don’t you
just simply stop?
Because I don't want to.
Oh, here we go.
And while you may be thinking
that this is nothing new
and almost no different
to how algorithms work
on other social media platforms,
there is one
central point of difference,
and that is when we consider
the immense volume of data
TikTok collects.
Whether that be your location,
your gender, your age,
the device you use,
your IP address,
and perhaps most concerning
your facial data.
They can use other computers
that you're not even using
to log in to TikTok.
They can suck the data off that.
That's what you're agreeing to
when you download
and start using TikTok.
Researchers have even discovered
that TikTok read the clipboard
every time the app was opened
and even more recently
recorded your keystrokes.
Every time you type something in
that could be your credit card.
But why?
Why does TikTok need
so much information?
Does TikTok need
all this personal data
to deliver you
a more personalized
and accurate “For you” page?
Or is there something more sinister?
This is where Tiktok's
parent company comes in.
Bytedance.
It's a $3 billion
app development company
that operates out of China.
Now, like all major companies
operating in China,
Bytedance has its own
internal committee
of the Chinese government.
And this is precisely
where the problem lies.
Bytedance is incredibly loyal
to the Chinese government
and in turn incorporates
a heavy handed approach
towards censorship.
And yeah,
this is pretty much
why we got banned.
You see, earlier this year,
we made this video
highlighting the genocide games
taking place in China.
It was a pretty decent video
that received almost 4 million
views on Instagram.
But TikTok clearly wasn't a fan.
They shut down the video
and flagged our page.
And considering
the number of videos
we've since made,
then highlighting
the mass detention of Uyghurs,
it's absolutely no wonder
why they wanted us removed.
They don't want you
to know about the Uyghurs.
So that was the end of our page.
But it's not the end of our story.
It's not just censorship
that TikTok is offering China.
They're also offering
our private information.
According to Chinese
National Intelligence Law.
If the Chinese government
requested Bytedance
to hand over TikTok user data,
the company
is obliged
to assist the government.
They would even be further
legally prevented
from publicizing
anything took place.
So it's not far
fetched to believe
that the data collected by TikTok
is already being used
by the Chinese government,
especially when we consider
the vast level of private data
China currently collects
on its own
1.3 billion citizens.
But by no means is that all
you see,
even if we ignore
Chinese censorship
and privacy breaches.
It's the app, above all,
in and of itself,
that is incredibly harmful.
TikTok is toxic by design.
Yet this is exactly
what our young generation
is addicted to.
It has a profound ability to shape
and influence our culture, values
and identities
through an algorithm
that is doctored,
censored and manipulated.
I mean, if we thought
depression levels
soaring in teenage
girls was an issue
after the launch of Instagram,
we can only hold our breath over
what to expect from TikTok.
I mean, here
we have an app
that was exposed in the past
for actively promoting
only the most beautiful
and glamorous of creators
while actively suppressing creators
that were ugly, old,
wrinkled, disabled,
or from poor
and debilitated locations.
This is an app
that is making its users
more discontent with themselves
depressed, fragile, and obsessed
with the most
degenerate of lifestyles.
This is an app that has fostered
the growth
of hypersexualized
and perverted young minds.
Young minds that lack the willpower
to break away from the cycle
of perversion
and degeneracy.
Let's face it
TikTok is incredibly toxic,
and it's no wonder
they wouldn't want
our content on their platform.
But it's up to us as Muslims
and concerned viewers
to rise above and beyond TikTok
and take control of our lives.
I mean, while TikTok would rather
you not know
about the plight
of the Palestinians or the Uyghurs,
We should strive to be people
who remember them
and uplift their cause.
While TikTok would rather
you self-obsess
over your physical features
and your external appearance,
we should be people
who focus on the inner
state of our hearts,
in our intimate relationships
with Allah.
While TikTok would rather
you become more perverse
fawning over hypersexualized
material and streaming girls,
we should strive to be people
who embody self-discipline
and control.
See TikTok can delete our page.
But they can't delete who we are.
Our faith, values and identity.
May Allah protect us all.