RedEye9 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 13:35:
The best thing is knowing that the insert one (Chinese, North Koreans, Russians, White Nationalists) can't spread misinformation on insert one (FaceBook, Twitter, Truth Soc, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit) with this ban.

Ignoring your sarcasm, they of course can, but the difference is that they do not control the algorithm.
If a 14 year old boy is using Instagram to predominantly follow NBA athletes, the Instagram algorithm will serve him things that other NBA athlete fans see. The algorithm is very stupid, and just wants to increase how much time is spent, so it will serve things it thinks they want to see. It's not transparent, but we know the goal.

If that same 14 year old boy is using TikTok, the algorithm isn't driven solely by profitability. China has a vested interest in radicalizing our nation. So they can put their thumb on the scale and get that 14 year old boy to things like Andrew Tate sooner, because that's ultimately a goal for them.

So yes, bad things can happen on either, but it's much more likely to happen on one than the other.
Ultimately, I think algorithmic-driven content is a very bad thing, but it's absolutely worse when one actor's goal is to drive the dissent, confusion, and misinformation that comes from algorithms.

The best thing is knowing that the insert one (Chinese, North Koreans, Russians, White Nationalists) can't spread misinformation on insert one (FaceBook, Twitter, Truth Soc, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit) with this ban.

ZeroPike1 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 11:51:

Beamer wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 10:10:

ZeroPike1 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 09:53:

Beamer wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 21:13:

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

Are they not the same thing?

No. There's a reason why our legal system penalizes intentional acts much harsher than unintended ones, even if the outcome is the same.

And, in this case, we can actually stop what our own corporations do if we choose. We cannot stop what foreign ones do.

Guess, I equate both with being terrible awful things.

But why be black and white? There is always grey. Some things are worse than others. Some things are easier to fix than others.

And American companies serving crap via algorithms will absolutely shift over time. Chinese officials trying to undermine America via algorithms will not.

I'm not saying either is a good case, but if you're going to get punched in the face, would you rather it be from your brother or from some random guy in the street who will keep doing it whenever he has the chance without you knowing when, where, or who to prevent it?

Beamer wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 10:10:

ZeroPike1 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 09:53:

Beamer wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 21:13:

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

Are they not the same thing?

No. There's a reason why our legal system penalizes intentional acts much harsher than unintended ones, even if the outcome is the same.

And, in this case, we can actually stop what our own corporations do if we choose. We cannot stop what foreign ones do.

Guess, I equate both with being terrible awful things.

Tiktok is just bandwidth waste, so they may as well remove it entirely.

And now Youtube is having their own annoying clone with shorts.

Beamer wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 10:10:

ZeroPike1 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 09:53:

Beamer wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 21:13:

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

Are they not the same thing?

No. There's a reason why our legal system penalizes intentional acts much harsher than unintended ones, even if the outcome is the same.

And, in this case, we can actually stop what our own corporations do if we choose. We cannot stop what foreign ones do.

100% correct. While we may be terrible enforcing our rules at times, at least they exist.

ZeroPike1 wrote on Apr 22, 2024, 09:53:

Beamer wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 21:13:

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

Are they not the same thing?

No. There's a reason why our legal system penalizes intentional acts much harsher than unintended ones, even if the outcome is the same.

And, in this case, we can actually stop what our own corporations do if we choose. We cannot stop what foreign ones do.

Beamer wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 21:13:

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

Are they not the same thing?

NKD wrote on Apr 21, 2024, 20:39:
As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

What is worse? Serving terrible bullshit like Andrew Tate to preteen boys because it's profitable, or because you want to undermine America through culture wars?

As bad as TikTok is imagine how much worse it would be if they did sell to a US company and put it under the control of far-right US techbros. I hope they decide not to sell and just let the ban go into effect.

Given the threat China is to the rest of the world they absolutely need to ban that app so long as it remains under the control of the Chinese government. They're seriously saying it would trample free speech with a straight face? Yeah, the Chinese government knows more than a little about trampling freedom, don't they?

I thought the same thing. But reading the story in full killed my levity and starkly reminded me why I find it abhorrent how American politics work. I feel like I need to take a shower after reading that.

That TikTok story is more than a little amusing. Bordering on the satirical.