The Secret Dangers of TikTok Eavesdropping Unveiled by The New York Times

Have you ever had a juicy conversation with a friend in a public place? Maybe it was a rant about your spouse at a local coffee shop. Or a rant about your boss on a noisy subway. We’ve all been there, right?

Now imagine waking up the next day and finding a TikTok video that recaps your entire conversation in excruciating detail, even revealing your location and the color of your shirt. It’s enough information for your boss or spouse to easily identify you.

I recently came across a TikTok video where an influencer overhears a group of bridesmaids talking negatively about a bride. The influencer describes their hairstyles, dresses, and even the specific drink served at the event, all details she picked up from eavesdropping. If this was your wedding, you’d recognize it instantly.

My immediate reaction: I hope the bride never sees this. Followed by: There’s no way she isn’t going to see this.

That’s just how algorithms work, especially on platforms like TikTok. The platform’s secret sauce is its ability to serve hyper-specific content based on your preferences. It knows your contacts, location, and interests. The “You” in the For You Page is literal.

Turning unsuspecting strangers into social media content is not a new phenomenon. Remember the 2018 saga of #PlaneBae, where a woman live-tweeted the interactions of a man and a woman sitting in front of her on a plane, creating a meet-cute story for thousands of viewers?

By the end of the #PlaneBae story, it was clear that the whole thing was invasive and a violation of privacy. Unfortunately, we still haven’t learned our lesson. The drama of strangers, real or imagined, remains a gold mine for viral content.

In 2021, a woman named Marissa Meizz turned a similar situation into a positive experience. When a stranger overheard her friends excluding her from a birthday party and posted about it on TikTok, Meizz founded No More Lonely Friends, a social community focused on helping people make new friends.

While Meizz’s story had a happy ending, she shouldn’t have been put in that situation to begin with.

As platforms like TikTok become more efficient and reach wider audiences, we must reconsider the rules of engagement. Social media has always been about turning what’s happening around you into content. But when you’re the one being turned into content without consent, you lose control. So be cautious out there.

Internet Candy

Here’s what else is happening online this week.

Rome on the brain

How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

According to a recent TikTok trend, some people, particularly men, think about it a lot. When asked, some men claim to think about the Roman Empire every day or constantly, leaving the women in their lives puzzled.

Why is this happening? Some historians argue that there’s a masculine quality associated with the warfare and politics of ancient Rome, but others disagree. In broader sample videos, many men claim not to think about it much. And many women are also actively engaged in studying the subject.

Help us delve into this. Send an email to [email protected] and let us know if you have Augustus stuck in your head.

—Callie Holtermann

Have feedback? Send me a note at [email protected].

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