WordswithAnna

Author: Annahoerner

  • TikTok’s Violations in Digital Marketing: TikTok Vs. Children’s Privacy

    Anna Hoerner

    In the world of digital marketing and business, the widely known social media platform, TikTok, has raised serious concerns regarding its ethical behavior and focus. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit in 2024 against this platform’s affiliate partner, ByteDance, involving a breach of privacy and data amongst children using the app. This was already after the complaint filed by the FTC (2024), just five years prior. This triggers alarms for the digital marketing world when questions of consent, privacy, and protection are asked, as humans continue to enter their way into the growing field of technology. According to the FTC article, TikTok and its affiliate companies were aware that children, who were under the required age of 13, were able to create accounts and interact on their sites, without any preventative action going forward. The article states that the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was in violation because of TikTok’s disregard for parental consent, a legal requirement that was enforced for children below the age of 13 on these sites. Not only was this a violation of this agreement, but it was also well-recognized and ignored amongst the site. This specific lawsuit, from the year 2024, is designed to recognize the abuse of data that the site utilized for further advertising and promotion tactics. Despite the platform’s agreements, children’s privacy concerns were flagged as TikTok disregarded their responsibilities in user agreements and information. The FTC article (2024) attacks three individual concerns head-on. Those being, TikTok’s continual violation of privacy laws, children being too vulnerable to protect themselves against exploitation, and TikTok’s more present concern of promoting their site over their responsibilities and loyalty to legal agreements.

    The ethical problem that is seen throughout this case is the overall exploitation and nonconsensual collection of these children’s data. Because TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, were well aware of their misuse and breach of privacy laws, it proves the unethical behavior due to their violation of principles. Ultimately concluding that parents were not aware of how their children’s information is being used on the site. TikTok’s misuse and failure to regulate its user privacy laws creates a lack of transparency for parents and others to become aware of how individuals’ data is being used while accessing the site. This leads to the simple question: can TikTok be trusted to support and prevent the illegal and unauthorized collection of young children’s data and identity? Despite the ongoing concerns surrounding TikTok and privacy laws over the years, this problem is heightened with tension because it now lies amongst young children being exploited. Before the age of 13, FTC’s lawsuit concerns the idea that they’re not yet at the appropriate age to defend themselves through awareness and knowledge of TikTok’s agreements. Due to their young age, TikTok is expected to be able to uphold and respect the responsibilities of maintaining age restrictions and parental consent regulations, in order to keep loyalty to their agreements. Overall, this site’s use of data increases the concern around money-making and manipulation tactics being used in order to further advertise and promote their brand.

    Deepening this neglect in lawful agreement, according to the FTC.gov article, the complaint was first made aware in 2019, when they were first exploited for violating COPPA laws. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan says, “TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids’ privacy, threatening the safety of millions of children across the country,” and proceeds to state that, “The FTC will continue to use the full scope of its authorities to protect children online—especially as firms deploy increasingly sophisticated digital tools to surveil kids and profit from their data.” This represents the Federal Trade Commission’s sincere attempt to prevent further violations and misuse of privacy laws by attacking this case with the standards it deserves. The article also states that ByteDance and its other companies were made completely aware of their role to comply with COPPA laws, as well as the breach in regulations that TikTok was a part of in 2019. The FTC (2024) also says, “instead of complying, ByteDance and TikTok spent years knowingly allowing millions of children under 13 on their platform designated for users 13 years and older in violation of COPPA” (2019 Consent Order, violating COPPA), reiterating the fact that they were not only well aware of this illegal movement, but also, emphasizing that millions of children were involved. This goes to highlight the fact that TikTok was already aware and under governmental watch for violations in their privacy agreements, but continued their misuse of data in young children for years following. 

    The major concern behind why kids under 13 years old are prohibited from entering these social sites, such as TikTok, without parental consent and control, dates back to the COPPA law passed in 1998 (Federal Trade Commission, 2024). This law protects the privacy of children under ages of 13, from having their data be misused at such a young age. According to the article, FTC Investigation Leads to Lawsuit Against TikTok and ByteDance for Flagrantly Violating Children’s Privacy Law, TikTok built “back doors” in its app that would allow children under the legal age to access its platform, without screening for age requirements prior. This created tension and a lack of trust amongst the platform and its intentions with data privacy and young viewers. The FTC complaint also states that, “TikTok also allegedly made it difficult for parents to request that their child’s accounts be deleted,” (Federal Trade Commission, 2024), which proves that TikTok did not reinstate and maintain good regulations over their privacy agreements. 

    Connecting to a data analysis and business perspective, TikTok’s breach of these regulations promoted concerns of prioritizing money-making and brand promotion tactics instead of respecting the privacy of young viewers. According to the complaint, TikTok would use a tactic called “retargeting less active users,” where they would share personal data with third-party sites, like Facebook and AppsFlyer, to promote continual usage of these sites. The Federal Trade Commission (2024) states that this wasn’t necessary data to be collected, ultimately questioning the ethical behavior behind these actions. 

    From a biblical worldview standpoint, the concerns raised in this article reflect the ultimate neglect of honesty, integrity, and protecting against the “vulnerable”. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” With this, TikTok is held accountable for its lack of transparency in its data collection habits. Parents, especially, were not made completely aware of how their children’s data was being used, and places TikTok’s behaviors in conflict with how the Bible emphasizes truthfulness. Another aspect from a biblical stand is found again in Proverbs, where it says, “open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute (vulnerable)” (Proverbs 31:8-9). This speaks on behalf of the moral understanding that we are to protect children, who are not as experienced in preventing risk and harm to themselves. With TikTok allowing children to bypass and look beyond those under the restricted age on their site, it ultimately created a heavy tension and conflict between the biblical call to protect those who need protection. Within these standards, TikTok and its partner sites represent the misuse of human morals and the overlooking of biblical standards. As Christians, we are called to protect and represent a standard of good character, as presented throughout all of Scripture.

    In conclusion, the lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission sheds light on TikTok’s misuse of data collection, neglect to protect children’s privacy laws under COPPA, and its priority on promoting advertising and profit-driven behaviors. Not only from a biblical worldview, but also under credible company morals, businesses like TikTok highlight the importance of honesty in behaviors, faithfulness to agreements, and protection against privacy violations. As our world transforms into a digital civilization, it is important to practice safe and secure ways of promoting brands while keeping the peace between employers and users.

    References:


    Federal Trade Commission. (2024, August 2). FTC Investigation Leads to Lawsuit Against TikTok and ByteDance for Flagrantly Violating Children’s Privacy Law. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/ftc-investigation-leads-lawsuit-against-tiktok-bytedance-flagrantly-violating-childrens-privacy-law

    Federal Trade Commission. (2025). Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”). https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa

  • Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

    Sedona, AZ

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    Aside from a tourist bus driving us here on a cold windy day in AZ, Peace Park brought a change of perspective into my heart. The Buddhist site honors prayer and meditation, directed toward the welcoming of all religions. Specifically, honor is displayed to Amitabha Buddha for infinite light. This site was truly a representation of how still and faithful a soul can be, through religion and belief systems. As a Christian, we are developed to believe that Jesus and the way we see Him, is the one true king. When surrounded by practices of meditation, the releasing of energy, and the understanding of karma, the Buddhist faith is, nontheless, intriguing. No one is to say which religion ranks over another, as they all bring new ideas and traditions to guide a spiritual and personal awakening. As I have come to broaden my experiences through different cultures, communities, and belief systems, I have found that every religion leaves a part of your soul more accepting and connected to a larger world. With little knowledge about the Buddhist traditions, Peace Park brought tranquility unlike any I’ve ever encountered. When someone comes to learn in places like these, each will come face to face with serenity and what energy means to a person, on a larger scale. This seemingly small site brought an interest in learning more, something I had to search for in my own self, through new experiences. I have been bored for many years. Turns out, all I had to do was try new things. I would love to meet and learn more about Buddhist culture, and that is a promise to my future self.

    To many more new experiences coming soon.

    AH

  • Can Tik Tok Lead you toward Salvation?

    “God will forgive you”

    “repent for your sins”

    “the only answer is Jesus”

    “I am praying for you”

    What is wrong with these phrases? Nothing. Except do the people saying them really know what they mean? As I have built my relationship with Jesus, there are some things that I never want to be associated with. The main one being, “TikTok famous” by spreading “God’s word,” and only because it is so far away from a biblical perspective. In no way am I saying that I am better than these people teaching scripture on this app, but I do think I am more experienced when it comes to understanding the bible.

    So what is my concern with these conversations?

    Ultimately, it leads to the spreading of false information. My biggest example is premaritial intimacy.

    “I want a Godly relationship, where we go to church together, read the bible, and learn to love like Jesus.” But, when it hits 10pm on a sunday after spending quality time together, what happens under the blanket will be something that is acceptable, because God will forgive me.

    Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

    Nowhere in the bible does it allow premarital intimacy to be acceptable or not a sin under the salvation of Christ. Someone who continues to sin, though they know God, are not saved.

    Now, as earthly humans, we will all sin. But salvation comes from repenting of your sins and rebuking Satan from both your physical and thought life. Saying you believe in Jesus is not a contract to eternal life.

    I see this a lot in my age group, as I was once one of these people. Just because Jesus forgives our sins does not make it an excuse to continue to defy and avoid His Word.

    Acts 2:38-39 says, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’”

    I encourage every TikTok scroller, including myself, to open the bible each time you hear a Christian perspective online. Hear what they are saying, but do not let them lead your faith without listening to the One True King. Oftentimes these people have a good start to what the bible is saying but fail to incorporate it in their everyday lives. Read the bible and take notes on it. The bible is your map toward salvation and to further build your relationship with God, not what is said on TikTok.

  • The Weight of the World on My Heart.

    We live in a world where prayer is rejected. We live in a world where evil is forced to be consumed by the every sense humankind can absorb. This just cannot be.

    Those who disagree, see the world through this lens. Just for a moment:

    Through my eyes, I wish I didn’t see anger and resentment toward people who should be seen as equal despite the color of their skin,

    Through my ears, I wish I didn’t hear conversations of disdain and contempt toward people who’s beliefs are different than someone else’s within,

    Through my hands, I wish I didn’t feel cold and detached souls against people who pray for everyone to feel whole again, Amen,

    Through my nose, I wish I didn’t smell gunpowder and flames that separate justice from the gunmen, fear dripping down our chin,

    Through my tongue, I wish I didn’t taste bitterness and acidity directed to the defeated, those who taste the evil, again and again.

    Redundancy is necessary

    because of what is at stake,

    The “divided” United,

    we’re building a cemetery,

    A community that lacks communion-

    is one that is bound to break,

    A free country,

    freely killing those that have peace because of what they make.

    We solved our past challenges

    and now we’re challenging that past,

    the one we “left behind”

    to avoid future attacks.

    We choose the life we live and this is not what we want.

    No need for laws and regulations to be taught

    to understand that this community is not the one we sought.

    I don’t know much but I do know this,

    I want better for this country and I want better for humanity. We are all humans; We are born with intent to create and build, and a purpose to serve and help. We are born with strength and we are born unique. We are born differently to share our experiences with our neighbors, not to give them a reason to fear diversity.

    I want my life to look different.

    The weight of the world is on my heart,

    and it is time we remove the cement that has calloused our community.

    -Anna Hoerner

  • This is NOT the world I choose to be proud of.

    Serious talk,

    For everyone that isn’t aware yet, this is what happened on August 22nd 2025, in Charlotte NC. In North Carolina’s city’s light rail, a young and hopeful woman had her life taken away from her in a brutal and vicious manner. Out of everyone we could blame there, my biggest issue lies with the bystanders. That literally did that and only that, stood by, and watched this young woman be stripped away of her life.

    Now, politics and controversy aside, fatally stabbing an innocent girl who sits in front of you on the train, is wrong. Fatally stabbing ANYONE, ANYWERE, is wrong. We are so quick to assume race, ethnicity, background, and class are what’s wrong with our world. Has anyone stopped to think about the fact that it doesn’t matter WHAT race is involved? These events will still happen. This, has become a matter of justice and how this young woman’s family can get the most out of this tragic and evil incident. What we should mostly consider, is how she died and the way it happened.

    This woman, 23 year old Iryna Zarutska, escaped an even more terrorizing danger from Ukraine, as she was previously residing in a bomb shelter. In the midst of the chaos, we all are made well aware of in Ukraine, she escaped and sought The United States as a safe haven. Understand, that this woman sought out protection from a country that has been “previously” known to provide freedom, safety, and new chances for people living elsewhere. This, today, is not the United States I have spent my whole life idolizing. Nor do I ever want to say that I am okay with the world I live in every day.

    Iryna stepped foot on that train, sat down, kept to herself, while not even looking at another person. Moments later, she was stabbed 3 vicious times in her stomach.

    I have not done all of my research on this man, this attacker, and truly evil hearted spirit, but I do know this: 14 times. 14 TIMES, he was charged previously. ABC News also states that, “He also spent five years in prison, for robbery with a dangerous weapon…”(Forrester) Not only this, but he has a history of schitzophrenia as well as an arrest from this past January. I have analyzed the camera footage to a sickening amount, trying to understand this horrific event and why it had to happen. This man, Decarlos Brown JR, was seen shaking and nodding his head in the footage, moments before Iryna got on the train. Showing signs of a pyschotic state as well as qualities of his Schitzophrenia, I can only assume that he acted on what he was hearing inside of his head. This man, under absolutely no circumstances, should have been allowed to go anywhere without an EXCEPTIONAL amount of supervision.

    For everyone curious, look up the definition of Schitzophrenia on Google. What is the first phrase that comes up? “A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.” Sound familiar to this situation? Good, it should. Treatment methods to help reduce symptoms include, antipyschotic drugs, pyschotherapy, and “Coordinated specialty care services”. With that being said, how could this man have been under the supervision of NO ONE?

    My heart goes out to the family of Iryna, who had made the claim on ABC NEWS, “… She loved America, we will bury her here,” (Ferguson.) This is something that makes my stomach churn; she loved America. She worshipped it for all of its glory. All of the claims we make about how we’re the “best country” is turning out to be the most ignorant and hypocritical thing we could vocalize. I truly hope that extreme measures are pushed in order to get Iryna and her family the justice that she deserves.

    Where my BIGGEST issue lies is with the people who chose to sit and watch this young woman bleed out in front of them. Like I have said, I have watched this video footage over and over again, watching the actions of every person in the surveillance. I do however, understand that shock is a major factor, as well as the fact that many people may not have truly known what had happened.

    Following the attack, a man followed Brown off of the footage and another woman grabbed her things and got up. Neither of them thinking about helping the young woman as she was LOOKING around for help, clenching her stomach. To their defense, the attacker very discreetly had the knife wrapped in his hand, so those people may have considered that she had just been hit. However, as the attacker walks forward, a trail of blood rolls off of his knife, which should’ve be an automatic sign to check on the girl for serious, or in her case, fatal injuries. Three people sit just seats behind this attack, two of which watched it happen. And still, not even a look over at this girl. This young woman grabs her stomach, looks around the room, looks at her stomach, and throws her hands over her eyes. These last moments of this girl’s life, were spent with her hands burried into her face, praying that she would wake up from this nightmare.

    In my heart of hearts, I am a poet. With that, I analyze looks and actions over straight forward facts.

    Iryna’s eyes. Iryna instantly displayed eyes of betrayal, confusion, concern, and fear within milliseconds. She glanced around as everyone did everything but help her. Therefore unable to recieve medical attention before being pronounced dead. Her look is the one thing I will never be able to get over. She stared into the eyes of the attacker as he walked by her, completely confused as to why this had happened to her.

    These event should always be talked about as we, as a community, choose to stand up for laws and regulations that need to be put into place. I understand that in the midst of an unjust and evil world, crime cannot be completely prevented.

    But something has got to change.

    Lord, I pray for this family and for this young woman who has joined you in Heaven. She was so young and her life was stripped away from her unfairly. But Lord, Your plan is greater than any of us could imagine. I pray You use her story to inspire so many people to not be quiet and to advocate for change. No matter how big, or how small, every voice in this advocacy is important. I pray You help us all understand why this tragedy had to take place and that You help guide us going forward. I pray that You keep us safe and You protect us from the evil that is out there. Lord, watch over Iryna’s family and allow us to help them recieve justice, love, and support in any way we all can.

    In Your lovely name we pray, Amen.

    Below, I have linked ABC NEWS article that I reffered to, as well as the GoFundMe link to help support Iryna’s memory as well as her grieving family.

    https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/charlotte-increases-security-train-ukrainian-woman-killed/story?id=125397170

    https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-iryna

    -Anna Hoerner

  • The simple things

    What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

    What brings a tear to my eye is realizing a moment like this one, will forever be a memory I choose to come back to. When I’m sad, longing for more, regretting plans, or changing my life, realizing that the moment I’m in right now will forever bring me a feeling of peace and nostalgia, presents a tear to my eye.

    An example I can remember is the moment I knew Autumn was my favorite season. What better time to describe Fall than the first day of September. I was little, when my mom would take my brother and I to pumpkin patches, where we would pet the goats and eat caramel apples. We would get our face painted, mine a black cat, and my brother’s the superhero obsession of the year. All of those attractions were fun and all, but the part I remember the best, and still look forward to each year, is the smell of the crisp air and wet leaves first thing in the morning. Each morning, through the autumn months, that feeling of joy and serenity overwhelms my senses and leaves adoration in my heart. I crave that feeling over and over again, until the moment comes again each year, leaving tears that stream down my cheek.

    Another moment is the time of worship each Sunday, when everyone’s hands go up. Smiles lay on people’s faces, despite what they’re going through. No matter their circumstances, no matter their story, their surrendering to the Lord presents the entire building with a sense of faith and purpose. Some people will pray, their palms will reach out to the Lord, until they feel a hand on their shoulder; they are confident they will feel that hand. Courage is represented in a time of worship, everyone unafraid of how they’ll look to the person beside them. The sense of belonging to a group that will love you, despite your circumstances and your situation, what a beautiful tear to have shed.

    It’s the simple things in life, the moments that you know empathy and love for everything around you. There is no better feeling than that.

    Those moments are what brings me tears to my eyes.

  • The Wonderful Welcoming

    I know, starting off with an alliteration first thing isn’t the best, but that’s the beauty of my freedom here. 🙂

    So what is this blog about? Well, it’s about many things. I am a person of many beliefs, along with many desires to change the world we live in. I am a FIRM believer in Jesus Christ, and as a young adult who can now say that I have completely surrendered my life to Jesus, I believe He is worth the conversation. So, most of my posts will revolve around my own testimony, things that I learn from His WORD and WORK in my life and others around me, and just how good He is. But, I am also a person who adores art and creativity, nature and exploration, photography and poetry, and health and wellness; all of these topics will be included as well.