The short answer: delete if the trade-offs don't work for you
Whether to delete TikTok or Reddit depends on what you're willing to trade. Both apps collect data about what you watch, search, and click — more than most social platforms. TikTok's parent company is Chinese-owned, which means the U.S. government has raised questions about where your data goes. Reddit sells access to your posts to train AI models. Neither app will harm you just by existing on your phone, but both require you to decide whether the features you use are worth what they collect in return.
The decision isn't binary. You can keep the app and change how you use it, delete it entirely, or use it in a limited way on a browser instead of the app. Each choice has different privacy and security outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- TikTok collects video-watching habits, search history, and device information; Reddit collects posts, upvotes, and browsing patterns, then sells data to AI companies.
- Deleting the app removes the app's access to your phone's camera, microphone, and location, but does not delete your account or the data already collected.
- You can reduce data collection without deleting by turning off permissions in your phone settings, using a browser instead of the app, or limiting what you post.
- The real risk from either platform is not a single catastrophic breach but slow accumulation of behavioral data that can be used for targeting, manipulation, or sold to third parties.
What TikTok collects and where it goes
TikTok collects every video you watch, how long you watch it, whether you like or share it, what you search for, and what device you're using. It also requests access to your camera, microphone, clipboard, and location — permissions that sit in your phone's settings whether you grant them or not. The app can see what other apps you have installed and how you use your phone overall.
The core concern is not that TikTok will steal your passwords or sell your phone number. The concern is that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, and Chinese law requires companies to hand over data to the government if asked. The U.S. government has not proven that this has happened, but the legal structure means it could happen without TikTok's public knowledge. This is different from Meta (Facebook and Instagram) or Google, where U.S. law governs data requests and companies must publish transparency reports showing how many requests they receive.
TikTok also uses your behavior to build a detailed profile of your interests, which it sells to advertisers. This is standard across social platforms, but TikTok's algorithm is unusually effective at predicting what will keep you watching, which means the profile it builds is unusually detailed.
What Reddit collects and how it uses your posts
Reddit collects every post you make, every comment, every upvote, and your browsing history across the site. Unlike TikTok, Reddit does not request access to your camera or microphone — the app's permissions are lighter. But Reddit's data collection is still extensive because the platform is built on text: every word you write becomes part of Reddit's database.
In 2023, Reddit announced it would begin selling access to its data to AI companies training large language models. This means your posts — including ones you thought were anonymous — can be used to train AI without your consent or compensation. Reddit does allow you to delete your posts, but deleted posts may already have been copied by third parties or included in AI training datasets before deletion.
Reddit also collects information about which subreddits you visit, what you search for, and how long you spend on each post. This data is used for advertising and for Reddit's own recommendation algorithm.
The difference between deleting the app and deleting your account
Deleting the app from your phone stops the app from accessing your camera, microphone, location, and clipboard going forward. It does not delete your account, your posts, or the data TikTok or Reddit already collected. Your account remains active, and anyone with your username can still find your posts and profile.
If you want to actually delete your account — remove your posts and profile from the platform — you have to go into the app or website settings and request account deletion. TikTok and Reddit both allow this, but the process takes time. TikTok typically deletes within 30 days; Reddit's process is less clear and may take longer. Even after deletion, data that was already sold or shared with third parties may remain in their systems.
If you want to keep using the platform but reduce data collection, deleting the app and using a browser instead is a middle ground. Mobile browsers collect less data than apps because they have fewer permissions to request.
How to reduce what each platform collects without deleting
On TikTok, go to Settings > Privacy > Personalized ads and turn it off. This tells TikTok not to use your behavior to target ads, though it still collects the data. Go to Settings > Permissions and review what the app can access — turn off camera, microphone, and location unless you actively use those features. On iPhone, you can also go to Settings > Privacy and turn off TikTok's access at the phone level.
On Reddit, go to Settings > Privacy and turn off personalized recommendations and ad personalization. Like TikTok, this reduces targeting but not collection. Reddit's app requests fewer permissions than TikTok, so there is less to turn off at the phone level. If you use Reddit in a browser and log out between sessions, you reduce the amount of browsing history Reddit can tie to your account.
Neither platform offers a way to stop data collection entirely while remaining an active user. The trade-off is built in: the platform needs to know what you're interested in to show you content. Reducing collection means reducing how well the algorithm works for you.
When deleting makes sense for your situation
Delete TikTok if you are concerned about Chinese government access to your data and that concern outweighs the value you get from the app. Delete Reddit if you post sensitive information and don't want it used to train AI, or if you've posted things you'd rather not have tied to your identity long-term.
Delete either app if you find yourself using it compulsively and want to remove the friction of opening it. Deleting the app is easier than deleting your account, and you can always reinstall later if you change your mind.
You don't need to delete if you use the app casually, don't post personal information, and are comfortable with the level of ad targeting. The risk from either platform is not acute — you won't wake up to find your identity stolen or your photos leaked. The risk is slower: your behavior is being tracked and sold, and that data can be used to influence what you see and what you buy.
Alternatives if you want the features without the data collection
There is no direct replacement for TikTok's algorithm — no other platform has built something as effective at predicting what you'll watch. YouTube Shorts is owned by Google, which collects similar amounts of data but is subject to U.S. law. Bluesky and Mastodon are smaller, decentralized platforms where you have more control over your data, but they have much smaller communities and fewer videos.
For Reddit, alternatives include Lemmy (a decentralized forum platform) and smaller subreddit-like communities on Discord. These platforms collect less data, but they have smaller user bases and less content. If you want the Reddit experience without the AI training concern, you can use Reddit in a browser, log out between sessions, and avoid posting personal information.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I delete TikTok, will the app stop accessing my data?
Yes, deleting the app stops it from collecting new data about what you watch or where you are. But TikTok keeps the data it already collected, and your account remains active unless you delete it separately. Deleting the app is not the same as deleting your account.
Can I delete my Reddit posts before deleting my account?
Yes, you can delete individual posts and comments from your profile. But posts may have already been copied by other websites or included in AI training datasets before you delete them. Deletion removes them from Reddit, not from third parties that already have copies.
Does using TikTok or Reddit on a browser instead of the app collect less data?
Yes. Browsers collect less data because they have fewer permissions to request — no camera, microphone, or location access. You still give the platform access to your browsing history and posts, but the app's access to your phone is removed. Logging out between sessions reduces how much browsing history is tied to your account.
What happens to my data if I delete my account?
Your posts and profile are removed from the platform, but data already sold to third parties or AI companies remains with them. TikTok and Reddit both delete account data within a set timeframe, but this does not retrieve data that was already shared.
Is it safer to delete TikTok because it's Chinese-owned?
It depends on your risk tolerance. TikTok's Chinese ownership means the Chinese government could legally request your data without public notice. U.S.-owned platforms like Meta and Google are subject to U.S. law and publish transparency reports. Neither is risk-free, but they operate under different legal frameworks. Choose based on which government access concerns you more.