Streaming superstar Tyler "Ninja" Blevins announced on Thursday that he's ditching TikTok, the video-sharing app beloved by Generation Z, over privacy concerns.
"I have deleted the TIK TOK app off all my devices," Blevins tweeted to his 6 million followers.
"Hopefully a less intrusive company (data farming) that isn't owned by China can recreate the concept legally, such funny and amazing content on the app from influencers," he added.
Blevins was the most-watched game streamer on Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch before he signed an exclusivity deal with Microsoft's streaming service Mixer in August 2019. Microsoft shut down Mixer on June 22, releasing Blevins from his contract. Blevins indicated this week that he might return to YouTube.
—Ninja (@Ninja) July 9, 2020
Blevins did not elaborate on why he thought TikTok was more intrusive than other social media apps like Facebook and Twitter. But his announcement is indicative that growing US political hostility towards the app may be filtering down.
TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, a fact which has made it a target for US politicians.
And Blevins' announcement comes the same week the Trump administration said it is considering banning the app.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Monday the US government was "certainly" considering banning TikTok on the grounds that it could constitute a national security threat. Pompeo said US citizens should be wary of downloading the app or else he thinks their data could end up "in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party."
On Tuesday President Trump weighed in, saying a TikTok ban could be a way for him to punish China for the coronavirus pandemic.
TikTok denies that it is a security risk, and has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots.
"TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy in the US," a TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider on Wednesday following Trump's remarks. "We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked," they added.
TikTok itself does not operate in mainland China, but is the international version of its sister app Douyin, which is live in China.
On Friday TikTok confirmed its withdrawal from Hong Kong after China implemented a sweeping new national security law in the previously semi-autonomous region.
