• Snapz@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I see ZERO discussion about how this is obvious theatre. We are so incapable of standing up to basic manipulation tactics from the right.

    trump first started using tiktok as another xenophobic boogeyman, in what was a fairly nuanced situation - trump’s position being completely wrong, but ultimately some truth to the fact that companies run in China inherently have involvement of the Chinese government and thule should be reached, monitored and if abused, access should be removed.

    This actual push was always meant to be something to hang on Biden admin either way (because again, some valid points to a potential ban) but in reality trump will now “save” this artificial shutdown to “restore tiktok” and millions of low information voters and non voters alike will think he did something. And in the meantime, whatever the fuck this lemon8 and red whatever apps are will likely be a huge privacy monitoring home as midst will leave things dormant in background as well after tiktok is “restored”.

    Again, we are just so I’ll equipped for anything to do with technology.

    • Lemminary@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      I agree with you.

      And, well, I assume everything coming from the US is theater entertainment from the get-go. That’s why I don’t even bother discussing it anymore although I have recently pointed that out about Trump is trying to divert with the Greenland fiasco and the media is being complicit. This is just another one of the pile. I think he’s purposely flooding the media and pushing for Americans’ mental exhaustion.

      ultimately some truth to the fact that companies run in China inherently have involvement of the Chinese government

      I’d say that’s an understatement. The Chinese government is greatly involved in many aspects of their social media because they don’t have speech protections for individuals nor the press. Xi wants absolute control, so the Chinese government is also involved in other questionable news this week about sponsoring hackers who were primarily targeting the US for gathering intelligence: Millions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot - US. They had state-sponsored malware on 10,000 computers targeting civil rights activists. It doesn’t seem in their interest to play fair, I wonder what their strategy would be if Trump steps in to stroke hes ego.

      • Lemminary@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        Also, part of me thinks one of his aides overheard someone talking about banning TikTok for this reason and thought to himself, “Sounds good but it’s too leftist for us to peddle. This would be great to pin on the old geezer!.” and pitched it to Trump as a win-win. It’s absurd, don’t listen to me.

  • crystalmerchant@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    There will just be a new (US based) TikTok copycat that springs up, or many. Banning one social media cancer doesn’t stop the others

    • hansolo@lemm.ee
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      2 years ago

      This is all about pressuring Bytedance to sell to any of the large US companies dying to get that user base. Remember that one party is currently loaded with tech bros with no ethics.

      Bytedance seems willing to play chicken and hit the wall as a gamble about coming out of this less hurt than anyone else.

  • GooberEar@lemmy.wtf
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    2 years ago

    A lot of people are saying that the US government banned TikTok, but from what I’m understanding, that’s not really what happened and what’s happening. Or have I misinterpreted things? From what I understand, they were told they had to divest and sell, but they fought that and now are opting to shutdown rather than comply. Is that not the case?

    Either way, I’m gonna go all “I walked to school uphill both ways barefoot in a meter of snow” on this and say that my very little experience with TikTok users seems to suggest that its not much more than pure, unadulterated brain rot. So regardless of the fact(s) (i.e. shutdown / banned / etc), there’s maybe the tiniest sliver of a net positive here. Or not. It doesn’t affect me one way or the other and given where this country is politically (as well as where it is headed), I don’t give a rat poopoo.

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      brain rot

      It’s a superior algorithm. You get what you engage with.

      I’m going to miss the largest community of left leaning American creators, educators, and activists. I’ve learned so much about politics, social engagement, and community building.

      But that’s just my feed. I’m sure there’s a lot of crap too.

    • FarceOfWill@infosec.pub
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      2 years ago

      I’m posting the same comment in two replies here now, terrible behaviour, but yes exactly this was an attempt to force a sale and get tiktok into American ownership.

      It feels very neat that America would think tiktok would ultimately choose the option where it gets more money, but that the Chinese instead choose control.

      • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        that being the case, doesn’t that provide more merit to tiktok being a data mining operation that China uses against American interests?

  • cm0002@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    That would go beyond the ban’s requirement for app stores to stop offering downloads of the app, but not immediately halt use of it.

    Before the tankies get mad about the “censorship” of the US while failing to mention the LONG list of things you can get straight up arrested for in China

    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pub
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      2 years ago

      Or have a “tea drinking” session:

      When I was able to speak to Ms. Wu about the “tea drinking” session (euphemism for police harassment), she sharply conveyed her sense of vulnerability due to the lack of interest in her stepping away from her popular Twitter account, stating,

      Literally the only thing that was keeping me online for the past few years was they were worried it would make China look bad if they cracked down on me. Now that they know that I could be dead in a ditch tomorrow and no one would give a shit or say a word I’m 1000x less safe here.

      […]

      Wu added,

      After years of doing this without anyone saying anything, on June 30th, out of the blue, they send plainclothes thugs to my house. Surprise! They were real cops.

      Why? because she’s LGBTQ+, has a Uyghur partner, and has some friends in Western nations.

      reference: https://www.hackingbutlegal.com/p/naomi-wu-and-the-silence-that-speaks-volumes

      https://x.com/RealSexyCyborg/status/1177145458503737344

    • djsoren19@yiffit.net
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      2 years ago

      Good! Hopefully one of those other apps is federated and free from any hostile interests.

    • Riskable@programming.dev
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      2 years ago

      Yes but diversity is good 👍

      Why let the Chinese get all the eyeballs for propaganda? Surely we should give other nations a chance?

      IMHO they should shut down every app that is both popular and has an exceedingly difficult to penetrate monopoly. Let the competitors rush in and do a it again when the same situation occurs!

  • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
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    2 years ago

    Just fucking get it over with already! I’m tired of hearing about this shit every single day.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Ok.

    (I bet tiktok doesn’t shut down, but if it does I can’t wait for my kids to tell me about all the meltdowns at middle school over tiktok shutting down. Too many parents let their kids have unfettered internet access. No, mine don’t have tiktok.)

      • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        No. They don’t.

        I installed the home LAN, set site restrictions, app restrictions, use parental controls on all their devices, use OpenDNS family shield, PiHole, and app installation controls on their devices.

        Even of they did find a way to see it I would see the IP address flagged.

        Sounds draconian, but social media is fucked up for kids. They can have access at 16. They have a shitload of other internet freedom, though. They’re good kids.

  • mlg@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I wonder if they’ll sell or go down in flames.

    If they sell, it’ll just become overly moderated like Facebook.

    If they go down in flames, a bunch of overnight competitors will compete to succeed.

    • crashoverride@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Did you see the post made by Zucker? They’re going to stop moderating posts, especially those made from, Right wing motherfuckers

      • misk@sopuli.xyzOP
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        2 years ago

        They can moderate by boosting certain opinions and downranking others. It doesn’t need fact checkers because it’s platform owner interests and not facts that matter.

  • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
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    2 years ago

    TikTok might start being not shit after this, but I’m not risking exposure until I have confirmation

  • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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    2 years ago

    I know the technicality is that it will be voluntarily stopping service rather than just ending new downloads like the ban says.

    But “app will shut down when banned” is almost comically anti-news.