Many Western Countries Block TikTok, Social Media Observer: Indonesia Don't Join In!

TikTok is a positive thing for entrepreneurs in Indonesia. (photo: dock. tiktok)

JAKARTA - TikTok is becoming a hot topic of conversation in cyberspace, as a number of western countries and their allies have started imposing bans on the use of applications since late last year. The reason is about national security.

The ban, mostly only applies to government devices and school or university networks.

So far, several countries have banned TikTok from covering the United States (US), Europe, Britain, New Zealand, Canada and others. However, this or not is not true for Indonesia.

Digital Expert and Social Media Observer, Anthony Leong sees this phenomenon as a positive thing, and Indonesia itself does not need to take similar steps.

"I don't think we need to take the same steps. Because indeed we don't have a ban on banning all outside applications. I think TikTok is a positive thing for entrepreneurs in Indonesia," said Leong when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, March 29.

Leong suspects that the ban on TikTok is a strategy in reducing competition. Do not let, said Leong, Indonesia follow in the footsteps of Western Countries and allies to block TikTok.

"I think there are other agendas that are competition between countries where the US and China each want their platforms to be used and so on," said Leong.

Because, according to Leong, TikTok in Indonesia has grown into assets that can be utilized by the community and business people to develop their businesses.

"(They should) take advantage of this social media application technology to build networking, selling, business and so on," said Leong.

In addition, he also sees several features such as TikTok Shop being one of the places that make it easier for users to shop.

"Indeed, now it is a phenomenon that I feel is positive and provides added value to our existing businesses in Indonesia, our startups in Indonesia," said Leong.

Furthermore, with the good growth of TikTok users in Indonesia, he hopes that the application made by ByteDance, which is based in China, can be trusted in maintaining the privacy of its users.

"Users and we hope to continue to encourage how these existing applications help maintain privacy, maintain this integrated data system. Do not leak and maintain the user database and so on," said Leong.

"We hope how they also take care of us as users. But, I think this phenomenon must be captured as a positive thing," he added.