Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

nbcnews.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

341–350 of 1001 posts

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#341

Post by johnnyanmac »

hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

> If that's your view of the electorate, then the whole "democracy" thing is just a cover for elite power.

yeah. They don't necessarily want nor care to inform of the truth. they want that sort of manipulation as much as any other billionaire. Heck there's a good amount of people who simply want to be told what to do so they don't have to worry about the big stuff.

There's a reason many almost always choose convinience over anything else when working in practice.

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#342

Post by MichaelZuo »

quasse wrote: post #267
hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

> voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda Who is even saying this is not true? The United States government is more aware than maybe anyone else that influencing human opinion and action is a statistical problem once you have enough scale. Just look at the history of the USIA [1] and its successor the USICA. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Information_Ag…

There are hundreds of HN users commenting here as if their opinions have meaning and value.

Which would be in question if they could all be under various states of “influence”…

At the very least the median credibility would be roughly zero.

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#343

Post by kelseyfrog »

quasse wrote: post #267
hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

> voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda Who is even saying this is not true? The United States government is more aware than maybe anyone else that influencing human opinion and action is a statistical problem once you have enough scale. Just look at the history of the USIA [1] and its successor the USICA. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Information_Ag…

And today's Bureau of Global Public Affairs[1]. Which "engages media to shape the global narrative on American foreign policy and values [and] communicates U.S. foreign policy objectives to the American public." Of course, it's difficult to pierce the veil and determine exactly how they go about doing this. Narratives are propaganda.

https://www.state.gov/about-us-bureau-of-global-public-affai...

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#344

Post by portaouflop »

TrackerFF wrote: post #335
spicyusername wrote: post #30

Man, the current democratic party just does not know how to solve problems in a way that people appreciate. Absurd that the Republicans are somehow going to swoop in and "Save the day" on an issue they themselves championed.

Trump was banging the drum regarding banning TikTok, then changes his tune in the 11th hour, and will now use this to come out as the hero and savior. Not to mention how many republicans supported this.

I gotta hand it to him it’s kind of genius

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#345

Post by LargeWu »

hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

Of course voters are subject to propaganda.

YOU are subject to propaganda. Yes, you.

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#346

Post by samr71 »

hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

I enjoy seeing HN independently rederive much of NRX thought via this situation.

In unrelated news, anyone see that NYT interview with Yarvin yesterday?

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#347

Post by nickvec »

hbarka wrote: post #196

“Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), the author of the bill to ban TikTok, owns hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock in Meta, one of TikTok's chief rivals. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) bought up to $50,000 worth of Meta stock last January before voting to ban TikTok in April." Exhibit 1. https://www.capitoltrades.com/issuers/431610?page=2

It's still mind-boggling to me that those in Congress can be shareholders.

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#348

Post by alt227 »

pkkkzip wrote: post #288
SCPlayz7000 wrote: post #262

[flagged]

The security concerns about TikTok has merit but I'm surprised given the reputation of HN, nobody is connecting the dots to lobbying from Israel as a legitimate reason. In fact in all the past few threads about TikTok ban there is almost no mention of it. There have been numerous strides to push China as the sole reason but there is almost no real risk other than China knowing what you are into to show you more of th…

> there is almost no real risk other than China knowing what you are into to show you more of the same content

The risk here is China having the ability to sway and manipulate opinions of young minds in US over years by controlling what information they see on a daily basis. That is an extraordinary power which should not be underestimated.

Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users

#350

Post by mesh »

hcurtiss wrote: post #224

By saying China's using Tik Tok to subvert "democracy," aren't we really saying voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda? I sometimes cannot believe it's those who so loudly cry about threats to "democracy" that simultaneously take such a cynical view of the democratic process. Rather than tackle the narratives substantively, they'd argue about who gets to manipulate the…

>voters are not individual agents but rather a mob subject to manipulation by propaganda

That has nothing to do with China.

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

Post reply on HN