Most downloaded social media app in U.S. during Q1 has "Huawei-like" problem with national security

If you peruse social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, you might have come across ads for an app called TikTok that is available in both the App Store and Google Play Store. The app allows users to create short videos ranging from 3 seconds to 15 seconds that can be enhanced with music from the app's library. Looping videos running from 3 seconds to 60 seconds can also be created.

TikTok has been a massive success and according to Sensor Tower, it was the most downloaded social media app in the states during the first quarter. However, some see a security risk with the app. The Peterson Institute for International Economics called it a "Huawei-sized problem" this past January. Because of its popularity with those in the armed forces, and the fact that the app can obtain location and biometric data, there is concern that the Chinese company that owns the app could be forced to send such information to the communist Chinese government.

During the three months from January through March, TikTok was, as we said above, the most downloaded social media app in the U.S. It also was number one in that category among Android users installing the app from the Google Play Store, and number two among iOS users downloading it from the App Store. Instagram took the crown in the App Store, and was the second most downloaded social media app overall in the U.S. from January through March. Facebook was the third most installed app in the social media category on Android, iOS and overall during that three-month period.

Besides Facebook at number three, the fourth through ninth most downloaded social media apps in the states during the first quarter were all the same on the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store and overall. They were Snapchat (4), Pinterest (5), Twitter (6), Discord (7), Twitch (8) and LinkedIn (9).