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As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

economist.com

351–360 of 653 posts

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. China and Russia are the biggest geopolitical threats to the world. It is surprisingly that simple. While the US and the western governments have their issues, they are still largely law abiding. China, however, is not. Additionally, under Xi, it has become more authoritarian and more willing to undo the rules based order that has someone kept the world somewhat sane since WWII. I don’t know why anyone would be…

I am from latin america and at least neither China nor Russia have participated in coup d'etat to install a military junta to then torture and massacre anyone slightly left of the US "Democratic" Party. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2khAmMTAjI

*Yet

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#352
post #212

TikTok is the most successful espionage operation of the 21st century so far, and it is based on a simple idea - people will happily give away their data and privacy if you consistently entertain them. In my opinion the application should be shut down as soon as possible, but there are many lessons to learn from it. And most of them have little to do with technology.

Yes - I uninstalled it from all of our family phones - that was not popular - but no regrets.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#353
post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A world where we want $29 microwaves and iPhones produced 24/7 and delivered to our doorstep. People in America need China in order to keep living the lives we have.

I'm not so sure that is really true anymore. I think that was the case in the past, when most manufacturing was very labor intensive. But now, so much is automated that things could be made anywhere for almost as cheap. Unfortunately, the US doesn't really have the infrastructure and capabilities to do so now.

A long time ago it was about labour costs but that isn't been true for over 2 decades. manufacturing anywhere outside of China can't compete with China anymore because of critical mass of supply chain. You should visit Shenzen and you will quickly understand why there is no place in the world like it and why there probably never will be.

Hearing that people think you can 'just' replicate Shenzen somewhere else makes me giggle.

Unfortunately for the US it also goes for batteries and other green energy tech that the US turned their back on in favour of oil these past decades. You can't just replicate Xinjiang polysilicon production, without which we can't have PV solar cells, also primarily made in China. CATL is probably the largest manufacturer of EV class batteries in the world. China makes more EVs than the rest of the world many times over, etc.

Now they are also leading in nuclear, rolling out 200GW of next-gen reactors, they have their own fusion experiments.

They have been leading in AI research for the last 10+ years.

The days of China being cheaper are long long gone. You go to China because you can get access to talent, work ethic and optimised supply chain + logistics that can't be bought anywhere else on earth for any price.

That dominance isn't going to be easily displaced because it's the product of decades of investment and R&D.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi from Venezuela

Ah yes, also curiously enough the US is way more prone to completely embargo Cuba and Venezuela but neither Russia nor China. (Due to political-economic reasons and not moral/ethical ones) Edit: profile I am replying to has the following in their about section: "about: I play music and I code videogames. I live in Brighton, UK." so assuming the "hi from venezuela" was sarcastic.

> (Due to political-economic reasons and not moral/ethical ones)

Has there ever been a lasting trade embargo that was based solely on moral and ethical grounds?

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would be surprised if you polled non-US, non-China citizens about what country is the biggest geopolitical threat to the world. Wait, I don't even need to talk in conditionals. I Googled it and apparently it has indeed been done several times, and the results are what I expected. https://brilliantmaps.com/threat-to-peace/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/05/us-threat-demo...

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Threats depend on who the attacker is in relationship to the victim. The United States is quite a big threat to PRC and the persons who claim sole citizenship there.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#356
post #25
post #20

So here’s my tinfoil hat theory. When I watch Tik Tok (and I am fully aware my feed is different from others), I become genuinely happy. I see people singing, creating music together via duets, showing homesteading skills, teaching things they know, telling funny jokes, etc. I never see dangerous challenges, though I am not a teen. Here’s the tinfoil hat theory: Tik Tok is what social media was meant to be, but unlik…

TikTok is the only social media app I use anymore. I didn’t even change my default ‘user12345’ account nor have I linked anything to it. I also consume it differently than I used to do the others, by going maybe once per week or two and binge for a couple of hours. It fills me with joy and ideas just as you say.

Me too. I haven't used Facebook since 2010, Twitter since 2016, and I recently closed out my Instagram after using it since 2012ish. Tiktok has almost zero of my info besides my email address, a few videos I've uploaded, and my watching preferences. I'm actually fine with data collection on the location/watching habits/likes--it gives me more relevant content.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#357
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TikTok is the only social media app I use anymore. I didn’t even change my default ‘user12345’ account nor have I linked anything to it. I also consume it differently than I used to do the others, by going maybe once per week or two and binge for a couple of hours. It fills me with joy and ideas just as you say.

So what is the social aspect if you're not connected with anyone?

Interactions, Q&A, and inspiration for hobbies doesn't take "knowing" the creator.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#358
post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

okay, go poll Ukrainians, Poles, Czechs, ...

Didn't the states just pull out of Afghanistan after 20 years of occupation? Or is that last years news? 20 Years! Edit: Downvotes, whats the best way to deal with colossal failure... pretend like it never happened. Afghanistan, huh? what are you talking about.

Afghanistan is quite infamous for being the most difficult region to take over; the Brits and the Soviets tried before long the US did

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasions_of_Afghanistan

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a non-US, non-Chinese citizen, is there something that makes TikTok espionage and Facebook not? Or is it just "china scary"?

Yes. China and Russia are the biggest geopolitical threats to the world. It is surprisingly that simple. While the US and the western governments have their issues, they are still largely law abiding. China, however, is not. Additionally, under Xi, it has become more authoritarian and more willing to undo the rules based order that has someone kept the world somewhat sane since WWII. I don’t know why anyone would be…

These days, the United States has proven they mainly follow the rules when it benefits them. So much for rules based international order. It's all unraveling as we return to a multi-polar world. History will probably look back and see the United States' global regime as starting off well. But it quickly engaged in the same brutalilty, lawlessness and arrogance as every other failed empire.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#360

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

You call the overwhelming majority of the world population unwashed savages whose opinion must be disregarded, and then sit there in disbelief that most people might dislike see your country (of which, sadly, that attitude is quite representative) as a threat. It would be good parody if it weren't real.

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