You’re all aware of the significance of the month of October, aren’t you? Of course, it’s Halloween! On a more serious note, it is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Both are related in some ways since the prospect of data and privacy breaches on the internet is scary. In accordance with this, TikTok has launched a timely campaign titled ‘Be Cybersmart’.
If the title didn’t already give it away, TikTok’s new campaign is all about raising awareness about internet security. With a growth in online and digital consumption, scammers, hackers, and other forms of exploitative behavior have also increased. TikTok chose to develop a campaign that better provides individuals with the knowledge to familiarize themselves with the widespread risks on social media and the internet in general, maybe in part due to their expanding popularity and learning from the case of Facebook and other huge platforms.
In a brief overview, the campaign features a series of tips that will be shared on TikTok’s @TikTokTips account.
As per TikTok:
“The series will feature TikTok creators and employees, including TikTok Chief Security Officer Roland Cloutier and moderately successful touring comedian @alex_falcone telling tales of cybercrimes and how to #BeCyberSmart.”
An A+ Effort
In line with the platforms’ recent growth and achievements, this campaign serves as a strategic marketing tool and a friendly reminder. TikTok users (and in relation to all social media users) should always take steps to ensure the security of their accounts. The fact that we have become so reliant on social media on a daily basis necessitates active management on our part, and it is projected to become much more so in the future.
As more people accept what has been dubbed the “new normal,” more and more people have shifted to work-from-home and distance-learning arrangements. Since there has also been a massive migration to digital space, there also needs to be a higher focus on cybersecurity. While the campaign for adaptive cybersecurity began in the 1970s, it wasn’t until lately that a more robust digital literacy and safety has been so strongly supported. Strong arguments have emerged and continue to arise in favor of incorporating these ideas into entire frameworks and paradigms, such as educational curricula, information sharing and tracking, contact databases, and much more.
In line with these, it’s good to see a popular platform like TikTok be aware of and take action against the prevailing issues associated with online interaction. Given the affinity younger generations have developed toward the platform, this campaign is potentially highly impactful in the future.
TikTok is also working with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to facilitate more vital education and interest regarding cybersecurity initiatives, including its contributions to the NCSAs Education and Career Resources Library.
The Wrap
As one of the dominant social media platforms, TikTok has, especially with this campaign, exhibited exemplary behavior in showcasing proper active involvement of a “highly influential body”. Not only are they sparking more interest in cybersecurity, but they are also introducing new potential frontiers that can be explored by actually investing in it. TikTok is a chief sponsor of the annual Cyber Games, which helps provide additional support for cybersecurity education.
In this case, TikTok is attacking two fronts at once and educating while also introducing possible related careers to those interested in cybersecurity. Who knows, you could probably be on TikTok’s cybersecurity team one day or better — be an NCSA agent.
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