US lawmakers tell Apple, Google to be ready to remove TikTok from stores Jan. 19

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 9:53 PM UTC

professor_v wrote: post #468

flkenosad wrote: post #459

I really hate how people are arguing that it should be banned because of the content being inappropriate in one way or another when the content you see is based on how you interact with the app. We don't all see the same stuff. So yeah China may have more educational content but that's probably just becuase the people there are interested in that stuff. When I travel to the mountains, I get more outdoorsy/hiking vide…

So how do we ensure that Tiktok doesn't covertly alter the algorithm to subtly include propaganda tailored to China's geopolitical interests that are detrimental to the US? Or even just propaganda tailored to enhance internal strife to weaken the country?

Post by flkenosad » Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 10:02 PM UTC

professor_v wrote: post #468

flkenosad wrote: post #459

I really hate how people are arguing that it should be banned because of the content being inappropriate in one way or another when the content you see is based on how you interact with the app. We don't all see the same stuff. So yeah China may have more educational content but that's probably just becuase the people there are interested in that stuff. When I travel to the mountains, I get more outdoorsy/hiking vide…

So how do we ensure that Tiktok doesn't covertly alter the algorithm to subtly include propaganda tailored to China's geopolitical interests that are detrimental to the US? Or even just propaganda tailored to enhance internal strife to weaken the country?

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 10:12 PM UTC

Zak wrote: post #601

flkenosad wrote: post #459

I really hate how people are arguing that it should be banned because of the content being inappropriate in one way or another when the content you see is based on how you interact with the app. We don't all see the same stuff. So yeah China may have more educational content but that's probably just becuase the people there are interested in that stuff. When I travel to the mountains, I get more outdoorsy/hiking vide…

Engagement driven algorithms do not necessarily show what users are consciously interested in, but what they subconsciously can't turn away from. You are probably a well-regulated, internet-savvy adult who easily recognizes engagement bait and knows to swipe away form it quickly to train the algorithm to stop showing it to you. People arguing for a ban are probably concerned about how it affects those who are not so…

Post by flkenosad » Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 10:21 PM UTC

ripply wrote: post #643

shlant wrote: post #484

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That being said, it’s not fair to single out TikTok. > The only unique danger with TikTok is that it could be controlled by a foreign adversary, or at least could be more easily than the others. Isn't that the entire reason given for why they are singling them out? You say it's not fair then give the exact reason why it seems to be.

I think they mean that those should also be banned, but this ban isn't about addictive technology, it's about China owning the addictive technology and being able to exert control over it if they wanted. I also am of the opinion that this addictive technology should be regulated, including domestic.

Post by flkenosad » Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 10:24 PM UTC

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #595

olivierduval wrote: post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that's why X/Twitter should be banned too... ;-) And Facebook too !! :-D (obviously kidding but... well... not so much after seing https://www.france.tv/documentaires/documentaires-societe/67... )

Not so much, which is precisely why China does ban Twitter and Facebook. I’d love to have a detente where every country has a permissive policy towards social media apps and accepts some degree of soft power from it, but that’s not where we’re at.