Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline • Hacker News Board

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#371

Post by JumpCrisscross » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:42 PM UTC

miroljub wrote: post #326

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is a vice, and like it or not, this could just be the beginning of our society beginning to scrutinize these platforms. Come on. We all know that TikTok was banned because the US regime couldn't control it. If they really wanted to ban vice, they would have banned Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and their kin a long ago.

> TikTok was banned because the US regime couldn't control it

The law is fine with TikTok being owned by a Nigerian.

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#372

Post by legitster » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:42 PM UTC

yellow_lead wrote: post #273

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. Source? I could only find this. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/08/1069527/china-ti...

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/tiktok-china/story?id=108111...

Anecdotally, I have heard from people who lived in China at the time that there was a significant shift in content a few years back.

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#373

Post by niceice » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:42 PM UTC

yellow_lead wrote: post #273

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. Source? I could only find this. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/08/1069527/china-ti...

The entire app is banned. They use a different one called Douyin.

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#374

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:42 PM UTC

ttrgsafs wrote: post #301

So what are the real dangers? - Frying teenagers' brains with short attention deficit videos. That one seems logical, but others are doing it, too. - Political indoctrination. - Compromised politicians who can be blackmailed: The big one, but a certain island run by the daughter of a certain intelligence agency operative was largely ignored. - Corporate espionage: Probably not happening on TikTok. Certainly happening…

[deleted]

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#375

Post by vFunct » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:45 PM UTC

yellow_lead wrote: post #273

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. Source? I could only find this. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/08/1069527/china-ti...

[flagged]

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#376

Post by danielovichdk » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:45 PM UTC

xnx wrote: post #305

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

You could substitute anything you don't like (gambling, alcohol, gacha games, convenience foods, televised sports, reality TV) for "social media" in the above and it makes as much sense.

I love to drink. Absolutely adore it. Putting on a great recors, open 2 bottles of wine and call 10 different people during the span of 4 hours. I wouldn't trade it for social media any day of the week. I am drinking right now actually

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#377

Post by ksynwa » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:45 PM UTC

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> this could just be the beginning of our society beginning to scrutinize these platforms.

Could not be more wrong. "Society" is not deciding anything here. The ban is entirely because of idelogical and geopolical reasons. They have already allowed the good big tech companies to get people hooked as much as they want. If you think you are going to see regulation for public good you will probably be disappointed.

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#378

Post by ls612 » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:46 PM UTC

throwaway199956 wrote: post #347

mrcwinn wrote: post #15

Regardless of one’s view on the outcome, this case is a reminder that textualism as a legal philosophy stands on shaky ground. This case is decided not on some strict analysis of the words written by a legislator, but on the court’s subjective view that there is a compelling national interest (which in turn seems based on speculation about the future, rather than a factual analysis of events). Textualism might give t…

But why didn't Supreme Court find the first ammendment arguments compelling? As per first ammendment it is legal and protected to print/distribute/disseminate even enemy propaganda in the USA. Even at the height of cold war for example Soviet Publication s were legal to publish, print and distribute in the USA. What changed now? Even a judge, Sotomayer said during this case that yes, the Government can say to someone…

Individuals can bring Pravda into the USA that is protected speech. But Congress could ban Pravda from doing business in the US same as it can ban or sanction any other foreign business.

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#379

Post by slt2021 » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:47 PM UTC

ksynwa wrote: post #377

legitster wrote: post #119

TikTok is perhaps the most impressively addictive social media app ever created. The algorithm used in the US was apparently banned in China for being too addictive. There's a certain historic symmetry with how opium was traditionally used in China, then Britain introduced stronger, more disruptive versions, forcing a stronger social reaction. Geopolitics aside, I think everyone is kind of aware that social media is…

> this could just be the beginning of our society beginning to scrutinize these platforms. Could not be more wrong. "Society" is not deciding anything here. The ban is entirely because of idelogical and geopolical reasons. They have already allowed the good big tech companies to get people hooked as much as they want. If you think you are going to see regulation for public good you will probably be disappointed.

agree, it was just a shakedown and money grab.

some US oligarchs wanted to buy tiktok at deep discount while it was private, and make money off of making it public company

Re: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, but Trump might offer lifeline

#380

Post by Zak » Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 4:47 PM UTC

hiq wrote: post #348

Zak wrote: post #280

I'm surprised TikTok isn't trying to push a web version, hosted outside the USA as an alternative to shutting down. While it would be difficult for a new social media service to gain traction that way, TikTok has a huge established audience.

Isn't https://www.tiktok.com exactly this?

Sort of. In a mobile browser, it almost immediately tries to get me to download the app, which is the opposite of pushing the web version in a marketing sense. Pushing would be telling app users that the app will become unavailable soon and they should use TikTok on the web.