Why Received’t TikTok Let Individuals Unsubscribe From Its Emails?

TikTok has been in sizzling water recently, as a number of U.S. politicians are actually calling for a ban on the social media app over its alleged ties to the Chinese language Communist Celebration. However TikTok customers have been complaining to the Federal Commerce Fee about one specific drawback and it has nothing to do with information privateness. TikTok customers can’t appear to unsubscribe from the corporate’s emails.

I not too long ago filed a Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) request with the FTC for shopper complaints lodged about TikTok. I steadily do that to find out about issues that prospects are upset sufficient to file an official criticism with the U.S. authorities over, whether or not it’s buyers who misplaced cash with FTX or Twitter customers who obtained scammed by Elon Musk impersonators.

The FTC responded with a letter that it’s obtained 1,301 complaints about TikTok since 2016, and launched the latest 200 to me, because it’s required to underneath the FOIA statute. There are many anecdotes about individuals who say they’ve been locked out of their accounts or complain they’ve been hacked. And different tales about not getting paid correctly for being a content material creator or being scammed by seedy influencers, together with one one that says they had been swindled out of $20,000 by a purported psychic. However the most typical criticism by far was concerning the lack of ability to unsubscribe from TikTok’s emails.

“I’ve unsubscribed from emails from TikTok at the least thrice. I comply with the unsubscribe hyperlink of their emails, verify the field on the following website that ought to unsubscribe me from all emails, and obtain affirmation that I’m unsubscribed,” one typical criticism to the FTC reads.

“Regardless of following these steps, I proceed to obtain emails from TikTok, generally mere hours after I’ve unsubscribed,” the criticism continues.

The CAN-SPAM Act was handed in 2003 to mandate a number of widespread sense necessities round undesirable electronic mail. The regulation requires all companies that ship out electronic mail to supply a straightforward approach to unsubscribe from these emails, one thing that customers say isn’t occurring. I reached out to TikTok Thursday morning for remark and I’ll replace this put up if I hear again.

I’ve pulled a number of the complaints from the FTC paperwork and am publishing them beneath. The complaints have been redacted by the FTC to guard the privateness of the individuals who notified the company. I’ve made very minor spelling and capitalization corrections for readability, however the complaints are in any other case simply as they had been obtained by the FTC.

I’ve additionally included the story of the psychic on the finish, simply because I’m positive you’re curious. TikTok isn’t the one platform with scammers, after all, nevertheless it’s actually shocking how a lot cash some folks can get swindled for utilizing fairly primary chilly studying methods. Keep protected on the market, people.

“I’ve used the offered hyperlink from TikTok three completely different occasions”

I’ve used the offered hyperlink from TikTok three completely different occasions within the final two weeks to UNSUBSCRIBE from all electronic mail correspondence from the corporate as I’ve deleted the appliance from my cellphone. I contacted their customer support yesterday to no avail for any kind of assist reason why I used to be nonetheless getting emails although I used to be unsubscribed from their electronic mail chain. I proceeded to unsubscribe as soon as once more yesterday and nonetheless obtained emails at this time (25 Jan 2023)

“I’ve possible gone by that course of about 10 occasions”

I get emails from them day by day about instructed movies to look at on their app at round 5pm. I’ve clicked on their unsubscribe hyperlink on the backside of the e-mail and unchecked each field class they should ship emails, nevertheless it has by no means modified what will get despatched. I’ve possible gone by that course of about 10 occasions

“I’ve unsubscribed from emails at the least half a dozen occasions”

I’ve unsubscribed from emails at the least half a dozen occasions and am STILL receiving emails nearly each day. It has been weeks and the emails are nonetheless coming. Please assist make this cease. I’ve included a screenshot of me unsubscribing but once more, however sadly should not have any proof of me doing so the various different occasions. Additionally, the emails will not be associated to account safety, and so on. because it says I’ll nonetheless obtain these; they’re all the time only a bunch of really useful TikToks

“I all the time choose unsubscribe from all.”

TikTok shouldn’t be unsubscribing me from the mailing record after utilizing a number of occasions the unsubscribe button within the emails. Within the unsubscribe dialog I all the time choose unsubscribe from all.

“I by no means signed up”

I’ve unsubscribed from Tiktok’s mailing record (which I by no means signed up for) at the least 5 occasions they usually proceed to electronic mail me day by day.

“I proceed to obtain emails from TikTok”

I’ve unsubscribed from emails from TikTok at the least thrice. I comply with the unsubscribe hyperlink of their emails, verify the field on the following website that ought to unsubscribe me from all emails, and obtain affirmation that I’m unsubscribed. Regardless of following these steps, I proceed to obtain emails from TikTok, generally mere hours after I’ve unsubscribed.

“…they proceed to ship me spam”

I’ve unsubscribed a number of occasions they usually proceed to ship me spam that I’ve not signed up for.

“TikTok the cellular app doesn’t let customers unsubscribe”

TikTok the cellular app doesn’t let customers unsubscribe from their advertising and marketing emails. When a consumer clicks unsubscribe the consumer simply lands on a web page with some textual content and is unable to take motion.

“…not honoring unsubscribe”

TikTok shouldn’t be honoring unsubscribe from electronic mail notifications

“…obtained me for over $20,000 saying it was for power”

I used to be involved with a so referred to as psychic by TikTok and over the course of 3-4 weeks obtained me for over $20,000 saying it was for power and all cash could be returned then simply stored delaying and making excuse on the return till yesterday when apparently her buddy contacted me utilizing the identical quantity saying she was a scammer and rip-off folks out of cash. However mentioned she wouldn’t give me any particulars about her as a result of it was her buddy I consider that is the proprietor of the cellphone quantity getting used, I’ve all 5 account names she used for me to ship cash through PayPal and Venmo I’ve filed dispute with them however as of now Venmo has denied the disputes and PayPal mentioned I wanted to contacted my establishments that the funds got here from, I’m in that course of now. I’m undecided if I ought to contact the sheriff sept as effectively or not? Anyway simply going to provide the account names in case you want them. [redacted] the title the cellphone quantity is underneath is [redacted] out of [redacted] the womens title is [redacted] and the [redacted] confirmed her title being [redacted] after I began the dispute saying she gave all cash despatched from me to [redacted] all our contact was through textual content messages and cellphone calls (I’ve a number of the latter calls recorded, sorry if this can be a duplicate or I’ve summoned this earlier than I’m simply making an attempt to report in all places I can consider!!!!