• @GrymEdm@lemmy.world
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    1071 year ago

    Here’s Bernie Sanders from a year ago talking about how a handful of companies control the news people see, read, and hear. TL:DR - He makes the argument that it’s not fake news, that journalists are usually hard-working and honest. He says the problem is the limitation of allowed discussion - what topics make it to the consumer. He says for instance that he’s never asked about wealth and income inequality.

    I believe TikTok is being banned because as it stands now it brings topics outside the limits of allowed discussion to a lot of eyes in ways US government/companies haven’t proven able to control. If the issues justifying a potential ban were truly data security or mental health as some argue (not without merit mind you), then the legislation to address those issues would look a lot different and include companies like Meta, Google, Instagram, etc. Those are valid concerns but the new measure is clearly not designed around them.

    Finally, we’ve seen how Trump can tie up the courts for months on end even after all his self-snitching. Thus I very much doubt we’ll see any actual action in the 9 months + 3 months grace period laid out for the resolution of the TikTok matter. There are too many constitutional and business law challenges in my (admittedly layman’s) reading of expert opinion.

    • @weariedfae@lemmy.world
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      201 year ago

      Kinda like the not-so-unsupported conspiracy theory that musk bought Twitter to silence protest coordination. That Twitter was too useful to the ‘masses’ and the “sinister cabal” (not my words) said it needed to be taken out.

      To reiterate: this is not my position but it is one I’ve heard that matches the sentiment expressed in the parent comment

    • @protist@mander.xyz
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      171 year ago

      I believe TikTok is being banned because as it stands now it brings topics outside the limits of allowed discussion to a lot of eyes in ways US government/companies haven’t proven able to control

      I mean, if this were true, that would mean you wouldn’t be able to find similar content on Western platforms. Are you really saying similar content isn’t readily available on YouTube? If so, what content?

      • @GrymEdm@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That’s a solid criticism and I upvoted. I hadn’t thought about YouTube. Anecdotally I’ve had factual comments about how many kids are killed, what Israeli politicians say, etc. auto-moderated into oblivion on YouTube. But at the same time I get a lot of the facts I use from YouTube (basically never been on TikTok) so it holds water. I also get a lot of info from other sources, but I can’t think of something specific I’d get from them that I could never find on YouTube.

        In my defense, I’m basing my opinion on why TikTok is particularly targeted on interviews like this one with Ted Cruz. He talks about how TikTok is specifically designed to push messages that are harmful to America, including what he calls pro-Hamas content but I suspect is actually anti-Israeli policy, pro-Palestine content. That is why I would argue there’s some evidence of a campaign against TikTok in particular that might skip over YouTube or other major platforms. Perhaps the Western powers feel that YouTube is still acceptably moderated towards their interests whereas TikTok isn’t. Perhaps Google is just too influential domestically.

        Edit: I found a video I was looking for: Biden talking about passing the TikTok/Israel funding/Ukraine funding package. A bit of language he uses that I think is telling is “it continues America’s leadership in the world and everyone knows it” which could signal US dominance as a motivation and thus TikTok as a target and not US companies.

        That doesn’t mean your point isn’t worth discussion, or that my points aren’t opinion. I’m interested to see how it develops. I’ve based my opinion on the conversations I can find and language used, but I’m open to adjusting my view if evidence prompts that.

        • @protist@mander.xyz
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          1 year ago

          I think this ban is completely agnostic re: content. The issue is more fundamental – it’s fully owned and operated by people in China. This is a geopolitical battle that is currently playing out across many industries. Social media grabs headlines where less sexy industry battles do not.

          I think Tom Nicholas gives a great overview.

          Also, fuck Ted Cruz with a 20 inch dildo. Don’t take anything that sniveling carcass has to say seriously.

          • davel [he/him]
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            1 year ago

            it’s fully owned and operated by people in China

            US private equity firms own more than anyone. WSJ: What Is TikTok Worth? Some Say $20 Billion, Others Say $100 Billion

            [ByteDance founder] Zhang owns 20% of ByteDance, according to the company, though super shares have given him larger voting rights. Roughly 60% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors including Carlyle Group, General Atlantic and Susquehanna International Group. The remaining 20% is owned by company employees.

            The CEO is Singaporean Shou Zi Chew and the VP is American Michael Beckerman.

            • @protist@mander.xyz
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              11 year ago

              TikTok is a subsidiary of ByteDance, and that the Chinese government exerts significant political influence over ByteDance really is not a question

          • @Marketsupreme@lemm.ee
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            71 year ago

            I think it’s a many birds with one stone situation - an industrial battle, a move to monopolize for Facebook after years of lobbying, Censorship etc.

      • @Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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        131 year ago

        For one the YouTube algorithm is absolute dog shit compared to TT, which is literally the gold standard at this point.

        If you haven’t tried, you’re seriously missing out. It’s legit incredible how good it is. I hardly use it because I prefer long-form content (and don’t honestly have much time) but I absolutely can respect what they created

      • @Tangentism@lemmy.ml
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        111 year ago

        Western SM is already in the pocket of the state and any content that goes against their values is suppressed.

        Pro-Palestinian content on Tiktok can easily get traction and receive over hundreds of thousands, if not millions of views.

        Considering that younger people are not watching regular media news, channels like fox just do not have comparative reach and they aren’t buying into the zionist propaganda like previous generations.

        There are a lot of content creators who are articulate, succinct and organisation has come out of it. People have created sites & apps that list all corporations and products to boycott because of their support for Israel and it’s had an impact.

        Sure, TTs algorithm can easily push you down unpleasant rabbit holes but that’s the nature of algorithms, not just specific to TT.

        So there might be similar content on western SM but it’s being held down and isn’t showing on people feed ‘organically’.

    • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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      111 year ago

      He is wrong though. When the war machine gets going we 100% have fake news. And the Journalists do not matter just look at New York Times massive Zionist propaganda takeover.

    • Anyone who has spent any amount of time on TikTok knows this is true. The narrative is beyond their control there, lots of eyes see. That terrifies them.

    • livus
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      71 year ago

      I agree with this. I think you’re right.

  • K0W4L5K1
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    191 year ago

    Idk why so many people assumed they would its a data gold mine even with the USA blocked

  • I wonder if Tiktok will just make a seperate company that would comply before the 2025 ban comes to effect…

    Or they will just exit the US market, interesting stuff.

    I still think Glenn Greenwald views on this topic hold true.

    “ByteDance doesn’t have any plans to sell TikTok,” the company posted on its official account on Toutiao, a social media platform it owns.

    The sell-or-ban measure was signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

    “We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts,” said TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew in a video posted on the platform this week.

    “The facts, and the Constitution, are on our side… rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere.”

    The Chinese government has also dismissed such concerns as paranoia and has warned that a TikTok ban would “inevitably come back to bite the US”.

    • @Tangentism@lemmy.ml
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      131 year ago

      The Chinese government has also dismissed such concerns as paranoia and has warned that a TikTok ban would “inevitably come back to bite the US”.

      The fundamental ethos of the US and its propaganda of why it’s the greatest country on the planet is the first amendment and the current bunch are absolutely destroying that illusion in plain sight of younger generations.

      They’re sending billions for wars and to Israel supporting and assisting them in genocide yet are saying to the ones they expect to pay for it that there’s no money for healthcare, infrastructure, education, welfare, raising minimum wage, etc, etc, et al, and then still demanding they should receive their votes “because the other guys much worse”.

      I see a lot of younger people saying that both are shit, that the system is rigged and they ain’t playing their game anymore. That is tantamount to revolution.

      • @jumjummy@lemmy.world
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        -101 year ago

        Funny how you concerned citizens always seem to mention Israel without also mentioning supporting Ukraine. Almost like it’s not on your talking points list.

        If you don’t see an issue with a hostile nation state directly controlling something that is consumed by so many Americans, you’re not looking at it properly.

    • @takeda@lemmy.world
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      -21 year ago

      The Chinese government has also dismissed such concerns as paranoia and has warned that a TikTok ban would “inevitably come back to bite the US”.

      If instead of getting anything they are opting to get $0, that actually confirms the “paranoia”.

      The fact that the two countries that are most accused of spreading disinformation (including using Western’s own social media) not only provide their own alternatives, but also bans Western social media shows that West wasn’t paranoid enough.

  • @mtchristo@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    This makes sense as there still billions of other potential users around the world. Add to that the fact that other nations like content of their own cultures in their own languages. It means even if they will feel the change the platform won’t collapse because it is missing US users. Now If other countries follow in the US footsteps then it becomes a different story.

    • @hughesdikus@lemmy.ml
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      31 year ago

      If you as a content creator have a choice between a platform with 3 billion people (US and India included), like Shorts and Instagram Reels, and one without (TikTok), where would you post?

      This is a clear disadvantage given to tiktok only to protect its own companies cause if US actually cared about data and mental health, homegrown Tech companies would also face repercussions.

      LETS NOT FORGET, China can VERY EASILY buy most of the data it needs from the open market which many US companies, including Big Tech contribute to.

      This has done nothing for citizens. Only protected innovation less US companies.

      • @hughesdikus@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Good riddance? Not really cause US still has clones of tiktok present like reels and shorts.

        Nothing will change. Data will still be collected. China can easily buy data from the open market. Mental health will still be affected.

        In fact, due to lack of competition, things will only get worse.

        US and India are 2 moronic countries

        • @CommanderCloon@lemmy.ml
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          51 year ago

          Shorts fucking suck. It keeps recommending to me exactly four types of videos:

          • stuff I have already watched, liked and commented – sometimes a few minutes prior
          • videos I’m wildly uninterested with and systematically mark as irrelevant or instantly skip, yet it keeps bringing up videos of the same subject
          • very old old “news” shorts
          • stuff of people I’m subscribed to – which is fine, just not what makes great algorithms

          Meanwhile, in a very short time, tiktok has managed to make me discover communities I had no idea I’d like to watch content from, while subtly managing to stop showing me some of the content from those communities I don’t enjoy

      • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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        91 year ago

        And back then the Republicans were the party screaming about banning TikTok.

        Now that israel is involved this became a lot less partisan very quickly.

        • @TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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          -81 year ago

          I vote Democrat. I and everyone I’m aware of who wasn’t already addicted to TikTok supported banning it.

          Maybe if your arguments contained an iota of good faith, they’d be taken seriously

      • @TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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        41 year ago

        Yes. This has been ongoing since TikTok acquired musical.ly. The CFIUS didn’t care as much until it became popular. TikTok has tried to comply, so why isn’t the CFIUS and there considerations being heeded?

    • @NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      This is the same conclusion Second Thought came to a while back in one of his youtube videos. While I don’t disagree with the conclusion, I also wouldn’t say it’s mutually exclusive to reasoning promoted by the mainstream media of "foreign influence. " What’s really wild is the idea that the ban is also being pushed by “foreign influence.”

      • @TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Plausible deniability, 2 birds with 1 stone. There are hundreds of companies with foreign investors and influence. TikTok has tried to work with investigators and even spent $1.5 billion on a server framework for Project Texas. If TikTok was a crappy app and wasn’t the primary source of news for young adults, the government wouldn’t care.

    • @anon987@lemmy.world
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      -81 year ago

      You have got to be kidding. Did you really just link the canary? The same canary that got banned from Twitter for making antisemitic remarks.

      They also failed dozens of fact checks.

        • @anon987@lemmy.world
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          11 year ago

          The ban on tiktok was going through before palestine attacked Israel. This article is just pure speculation and conspiracy theories.

          The Canary has faced criticism for claiming that Israel is an apartheid state for its occupation of the West Bank. According to the Jewish Chronicle, Kerry-Anne Mendoza, the editor-in-chief, had her Twitter account suspended when she compared Jewish Labour Supporters with South Africa’s Apartheid “Imagine if during a day of international solidarity with the oppressed of Apartheid South Africa the Labour leadership opted instead to spend the day with white supremacists. That’s what Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are doing today.”

          What great journalists.

          • Amerikan Pharaoh
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            11 year ago

            The Canary has faced criticism for claiming that Israel is an apartheid state for its occupation of the West Bank.

            So they’re getting criticized for being factually correct? Typical FIVE-EYES cracker bullshit.

        • davel [he/him]
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          171 year ago

          Notably the ban doesn’t kick in until after the election, after which it may not even be Biden’s problem. Maybe ByteDance will shut it down sooner. Maybe the next administration won’t follow through with the ban. 🤷

          • queermunist she/her
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            201 year ago

            It was smart to delay the ban. The original bill would have banned it before the election - monumentally stupid! This, at least, delays the impact.

            People are paying attention, though, and TikTok has been buying ads to campaign against this law. It’s still going to have an impact.

            • livus
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              101 year ago

              And Biden himself has a tiktok account that pumps out content.

              The whole thing is very cynical and weird.

              • @Tangentism@lemmy.ml
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                71 year ago

                It’s a piss poor attempt to try control tiktok and ensure they play along. They don’t really want it banned, they just want to control the flow of information and it’s absolutely destroying the illusion of the first amendment!

        • @p5yk0t1km1r4ge@lemmy.world
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          -41 year ago

          Well yeah, but saying this was all on democrats isn’t true, either. A democratic signed it, but an entire group of Democrats and Republicans are the reason it exists. Besides, I’m ok with the ban. A lot of people are actually, so technically, yeah it will affect who we vote for haha

          • Maybe in your circles people are okay with banning a social media company due to perceived ‘spying’, but in reality we know why the blues/reds want to ban it.

            People in my circles are fighting and helping share why these bans are bad for our society and free speech in general.

            I hope that helps you see a different view from what you are used to!

    • Em Adespoton
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      121 year ago

      What’s the overlap between people who vote Republican and people who use Tiktok? I’m actually curious.

      • queermunist she/her
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        The age range skews younger, so probably not huge. It’s definitely there though - lots of “tradwife” thinly disguised fetish content. 😒

        There’s a reason Trump came out against this ban, he knows it’s going to be unpopular and he loses nothing by flip-flopping on it.

        This is just a free W for Trump and an L for Democrats with literally zero upsides. It accomplishes nothing besides pissing people off!

        • livus
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          71 year ago

          lots of “tradwife”

          Wild, I’ve never stumbled on any of that. But it has a really sensitive algorithm and I’m pretty firmly entrenched in the science-travel-pets axis.

        • Em Adespoton
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          Well, unless there’s a credible national security angle that’s being kept confidential. I kind of suspect there is, since Trump tried to push through similar legislation, but worded it so badly that it never got out of debate… and the likes of Wyden voted for it even while they said it was the wrong legislation to solve the problem.

          • queermunist she/her
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            Please don’t tell me you actually believe them when they cry about national security. It’s almost always a lie.

            • Em Adespoton
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              31 year ago

              Usually it’s about economics. But in this case, it may actually be true.

              Generally, I consider real natsec issues to be things they can’t tell the public. So when I see privacy minded reps joining in with reps from both side of the aisle, I’m willing to lend a bit of credence to a security angle.

              Assuming it’s not just the US being upset that some other autocratic government is controlling the medium du jour.

              • queermunist she/her
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                91 year ago

                … and so by whining about natsec they can get you to support anything, as long as they don’t tell you about it?

                • Em Adespoton
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                  -41 year ago

                  No, I ignore the whining and consider it may be an issue based on actual behavior, as I originally stated.

                  Hence the “in this case, they might be actually telling the truth” from the original statement.

                  Just because they over-use an excuse doesn’t mean that it isn’t true on the odd occasion.

                  The problem is that so much crying wolf makes it more difficult to tell when it’s real.

            • livus
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              21 year ago

              According to the world map in this link the countries that have banned it outright are: North Korea, China, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Krzykstan, India, Nepal, and Somalia.

              (For anyone else like me who has trouble with unlabeled maps).

          • queermunist she/her
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            The CPC can just buy data from a different broker. You think Alphabet or Meta are loyal to American interests?

            Also, TikTok won’t be banned for months, so it won’t change the campus protests at all. In fact it’ll probably piss the protesters off even more, it’s very obvious government censorship.

            Also also, there’s zero proof TikTok is promoting pro-Palestine/anti-Israel content. That’s just what is naturally popular, the reality is that all the other social media companies are suppressing pro-Palestine/anti-Israel content. That’s it.

          • livus
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            111 year ago

            You think Chinese-owned Tiktok is inciting anti genocide protests on purpose?

            That train of thought has interesting implications. American-owned Facebook keeps being caught inciting actual genocides in other countries…

      • @JillyB@beehaw.org
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        11 year ago

        You’d be surprised. I used to work in a rural factory. All the big burly red-neck older men were on tiktok during their smoke breaks.

    • Yes, that is just another reason the DNC/Democrates will continue to lose support, compared to 2020.

      Some also left the duopoly due to following the DNC Fraud Lawsuit, Bernie Sanders 2016.

      Interesting times we are living in, we shall continue to follow!

  • macniel
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    -21 year ago

    If we could have it banned in Europe or just Germany I would be happy for my people.