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Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

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Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#31

Post by axaxs »

bobthepanda wrote: post #26
axaxs wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not so convinced. Let me first say, I can't stand TikTok and find its constant stream of annoying music angering. That out of the way, my wife and daughter love it, and I can see why. It made it easy for anyone and everyone to share clips, with a touch of social. It makes YouTube look like a slow bloated dinosaur. I just don't see people giving it up.

I mean Vine was the same concept and died due to lack of profitable monetization model. How does TikTok earn money?

If you ask me, ads with the ability to pay a monthly fee to remove them is the ideal situation.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#32

Post by Vinnl »

typenil wrote: post #13
topkai22 wrote: post #3

They underlying interview is pretty amazing, mostly not about this subject: https://www.wired.com/story/bill-gates-on-covid-most-us-test...

"I personally believe government should not allow those types of lies or fraud or child pornography [to be hidden with encryption like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger]." Disappointing to see that Bill Gates isn't concerned about the slippery slope of regulating encryption. It frankly sounds like he'd be on board with the EARN IT act. As long as we're only undermining freedom for the children or to make sure there's no…

It's odd that the part about hiding with encryption was added by Wired - I wonder how clear it was that that was what he meant, or that he just meant that he wanted stronger laws against lies and fraud. Although I guess that wouldn't mesh with the mention of child pornography, which already is disallowed.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#33

Post by dcow »

xoxoy wrote: post #20

I agree in the sense that TikTok is a trust and safety disaster at the moment and I’m not sure Microsoft realizes the investment required to clean it up and make it truly safe. One of the most disturbing features to me is that you can be logged out and download nearly any video to your phone. It would be naive to think pedophiles are not actively downloading videos of minors dancing provocatively and sharing it.

Videos of minors dancing is by no means native to tiktok or in any way illegal. If you think those videos are socially problematic (which many do), then you need to attack the incentive structure that breeds that type of content.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#34

Post by Closi »

thekyle wrote: post #10

I do expect TikTok to lose users after Microsoft acquires it. But not because of anything Microsoft might do. TikTok just seems like a fad social network that will inevitably lose the cool factor eventually.

It’s hard to tell, the same could definitely have been said for insta and snapchat, but also loads of apps that didn’t make it, so it’s a bit of a crapshoot.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#35

Post by typenil »

Vinnl wrote: post #32
typenil wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I personally believe government should not allow those types of lies or fraud or child pornography [to be hidden with encryption like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger]." Disappointing to see that Bill Gates isn't concerned about the slippery slope of regulating encryption. It frankly sounds like he'd be on board with the EARN IT act. As long as we're only undermining freedom for the children or to make sure there's no…

It's odd that the part about hiding with encryption was added by Wired - I wonder how clear it was that that was what he meant, or that he just meant that he wanted stronger laws against lies and fraud. Although I guess that wouldn't mesh with the mention of child pornography, which already is disallowed.

It's possible the encryption part is just Wired's editorializing and not what he intended. I might be jumping to conclusions.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#36

Post by rchaud »

Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok's operations in 5 Eyes countries only strikes me as strange. Why not their European operations as well?

Was this acquisition even on their roadmap before talks of a ban started making the rounds? It seems completely out of sync with the type of acquisitions MS makes, like Github or Linkedin.

What do MS shareholders have to say about forking over $30b or thereabouts to bankroll POTUS' China panic?

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#37

Post by thekyle »

Closi wrote: post #34
thekyle wrote: post #10

I do expect TikTok to lose users after Microsoft acquires it. But not because of anything Microsoft might do. TikTok just seems like a fad social network that will inevitably lose the cool factor eventually.

It’s hard to tell, the same could definitely have been said for insta and snapchat, but also loads of apps that didn’t make it, so it’s a bit of a crapshoot.

I'm not sure but I get the feeling that Snapchat is on the decline. Their killer feature was stories but now every app has those (notably Instagram stories seem very popular).

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#38

Post by xoxoy »

dcow wrote: post #33
xoxoy wrote: post #20

I agree in the sense that TikTok is a trust and safety disaster at the moment and I’m not sure Microsoft realizes the investment required to clean it up and make it truly safe. One of the most disturbing features to me is that you can be logged out and download nearly any video to your phone. It would be naive to think pedophiles are not actively downloading videos of minors dancing provocatively and sharing it.

Videos of minors dancing is by no means native to tiktok or in any way illegal. If you think those videos are socially problematic (which many do), then you need to attack the incentive structure that breeds that type of content.

agreed the algorithm is especially geared to minors to make mini music videos that are highly sexualized

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#39

Post by WilTimSon »

typenil wrote: post #28
ethbro wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His point is more nuanced than that, and oversimplified complex ideas virally spreading through social media is part of what he talks about. "Q: As someone who has built your life on science and logic, I’m curious what you think when you see so many people signing onto this anti-science view of the world. A: Well, strangely, I’m involved in almost everything that anti-science is fighting. I’m involved with climate ch…

I read all of what you pasted before I posted. I don't see how it changes my point at all. There's a complete disconnect between the first statement about encryption and the second. Unless Bill Gates really thinks that the vast majority of spread is through private messages. Even accepting the premise that censorship is the right approach, the vast majority of spread comes from public, unencrypted post. The connectio…

> Unless Bill Gates really thinks that the vast majority of spread is through private messages

Which would be absolutely wrong. (Not arguing, just backing up your point.) We've seen time and time again that misinformation doesn't spread as well through back channels and niche forums as it does through public figures, media and very notorious social networks. A post on 4chan will look like a scam, a post on a Facebook group of 200,000 people will look legitimate-ish. Encryption is not the tool of misinformation, people's gullibility, money, and compromised values are.

Re: Bill Gates calls Microsoft’s TikTok deal a poisoned chalice

#40

Post by bobthepanda »

cheerlessbog wrote: post #29
bobthepanda wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean Vine was the same concept and died due to lack of profitable monetization model. How does TikTok earn money?

There’s an ad when you return to the app. Since you’re expecting a full screen video to auto play, they often aren’t out of place. You can skip them immediately as well. Besides ads, one would think there’s endless ways to monetize a strong fun brand.

> one would think there’s endless ways to monetize a strong fun brand

YikYak, Tumblr, and Vine come to mind, and that's just social media space.

When you start free, monetizing in a way that doesn't totally destroy goodwill from your existing customers is tough.

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