Global digital rights advocates are watching to see if Congress acts, worried that other countries could follow suit with app bans of their own.
Open internet- right- even every website forces you to use the app otherwise it nags you to death or disables features, or just sucks and the app is a mass surveillance collection engine requesting access to every service and sensor on your phone or no-bueno. So open, #open.
I’m all for things being open, but what the major social apps force you to do to use them is basically criminal.
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
This article is what made me realize the TikTok ban actually has a point. It isn’t just about an open internet. It appears ByteDance is actively manipulating content.
thequantumcog@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Then How is Google different? From my view, It also manipulates search results.
I don’t understand what US problem with China is.
Note: I am not an American nor a Chinese. I have never used tiktok before. I am just an outsider trying to get a perspective.
rigatti@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The US and China maintain a good economic relationship but aren’t exactly buddies when it comes to geopolitical issues and have very different viewpoints on things like human rights and democracy.
stsquad@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
I think one difference is Google is a pull system: you query Google and get results. The short form video streams are push mediums. They feed you a stream of content that it thinks you want. They are fundamentally more susceptible to pushing a particular agenda.
The evidence from the reports in the above article certainly looks pretty daming that tiktok is pushing a particular agenda. The comparison to broadcast which often does have licensing requirements is probably apt.
I don’t buy the arguement that this gives cover to repressive regimes to censor more views because frankly they are doing that already.
Badeendje@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The fact that the current TikTok that is served to the world is illegal in China should tell you a lot.
Rest of world it peddles brain dead influencers to kids. In China it is almost wholesome and helps educate children…
Giving a Chinese multinational control over mass marketing to your children means it will be used for their goals… and not just serve as a capitalist add pushing platform.
Hildegarde@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
If manipulating content were the issue they would have introduced a bill banning that practice. Banning a few specific countries from operating does not prevent sites from manipulating content.
Bricriu@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Interesting article. I think the money quotes that shifted my POV a little were these:
and
It does place the ban in some more relevant historical context.
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Yes, the context of censorship, propaganda, and extremely violent imperialism.
Mrkawfee@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s being banned primarily because AIPAC and the ADL are worried that Generation Z aren’t falling for their Zionist crap anymore.
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Great refutation of the data /s
bl_r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
I skimmed the article and I see your concern, but my skepticism remains because of the inherent assumption that instagram is trustworthy and not already tinkering with their own algorithms. Just because the company is American owned doesn’t make it any more or less trustworthy in my opinion. I think the framing is flawed, but that doesn’t discount the concerns with things that are pro-taiwan having such a small presence
I do think a big reason why tiktok is now being held to the flame is the fact there is so much dissent on it. Younger Americans are becoming increasingly anti-israel and more critical of the US’s stance on foreign policy.
Instead of reacting hastily and banning tiktok I think a better action would be placing the same criticisms on domestic companies. Instead, I think we should make companies much more transparent in how they use their algorithms and filter content.
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Then do an analysis that shows Instagram has a bias and censors certain positions. I have not seen that analysis. There’s a reason the data points to only one social media site censoring views.
The only issue with Meta is how they refused to take down offensive stuff from high-profile conservatives due to political backlash
slumlordthanatos@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
TikTok isn’t doing anything that any other major social media company isn’t also doing. The only difference being that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, and not a US one.
Just banning one app does little to resolve the overall privacy and information nightmare that social media is.
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Oh? You have a source that other social media websites suppress certain stories?
Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 3 weeks ago
The US government has always cared more about national security than the privacy of its citizens.
DAMunzy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Capitalist NYT going after what has been called an liberal/leftist/socialist app. Color me surprised!
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I take it you didn’t really read the article haha, considering it’s entirely based on a third party analysis.
Also, that’s not really an effective counterargument.
isles@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Surveying content on Tiktok by hashtag is spurious. It’s not the primary method of content aggregation.
jeffw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
How else would you compare the topic of posts?
emax_gomax@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Is the issue their censoring content globally or just at all. Twitter for example is known to cave to local governmental pressure but I suppose its limited to a particular region and people outside of there are still allowed access. Really I’m more disturbed anyone is careless enough to rely on social media for news. It’s no secret their all just regurgitating what they or the platform owners want. Most youtubers actively avoid controversial content just to avoid demonitisation; if youre on a platform like truth social id be surprised if you ever get an impartial voice. I literally only scroll tiktok for cute and funny vids.