After they pumped $20B into Trump’s meme coin.
TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
911–920 of 1001 posts
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#912I think apps like TikTok or YouTube Shorts literally brainwash people. It’s one of the dumbest things ever invented on the Internet, yet incredibly addictive at the same time.
I can't believe how ignorant some people could be. It is so easy to find reports and evidence of how Tiktok could be of great value to people. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/dining/tiktok-ban-cooking... https://www.today.com/popculture/books/what-is-booktok-meani... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-67555175
AR-15s can be used for hunting but it doesn’t mean it is always used for good
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#913I think apps like TikTok or YouTube Shorts literally brainwash people. It’s one of the dumbest things ever invented on the Internet, yet incredibly addictive at the same time.
100% agree on this and go further; it rots their brain. We have to have the societal courage and guts to admit that it is conceptually the same as things like drugs/alcohol/smoking. Then again, we lost that battle with misogynistic, language-rotting, and violent rap music because we were too worried about being called racists, so there might not be hope we'll do better this time around.
Do you think rap music has had more of an impact on society or democracy than TikTok or YouTube shorts or just Facebook?
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#914So America really is for sale, and there are no exceptions.
Trump is definitely for sale.
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#915I guess we know now why TikTok voluntarily went dark. Wonder which companies will be assured by TikTok's assurances there will be no consequences for helping them break the law. I just hope this causes congress to dig their heels in again. Almost can't believe what I'm seeing.
It would only take 38% of Republicans in the Senate to vote with Democrats to remove Trump from office to get him out of politics for good. Defying the literal law on a matter of national security certainly qualifies as treason, or at least a vague "high crime and misdemeanor." Now that he's done his job for the Republicans (delivered a red wave), is there any benefit to keeping a kleptocratic monster in power? Shoul…
No, there’s a LOT of MAGAts on HN.
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#916What's that saying? The best way to get a promotion is to cause a problem and then fix it? Political things aside, it's crazy to see so much of a flip-flop so quickly. Has there been any other behavior like this in the past where a company "shut themselves down" to make a big political statement and then almost immediately undid the shut down?
> What's that saying? The best way to get a promotion is to cause a problem and then fix it?
In Trump's world, I think you should cause a problem, blame somebody else, and then fix it.
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#917[deleted]
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#918What's that saying? The best way to get a promotion is to cause a problem and then fix it? Political things aside, it's crazy to see so much of a flip-flop so quickly. Has there been any other behavior like this in the past where a company "shut themselves down" to make a big political statement and then almost immediately undid the shut down?
> a company "shut themselves down" to make a big political statement They were following the law. Anything else is just promises by people who are not exactly known for following through with them Shutting down because the law says it, and to prevent really big penalties, is not making “a big political statement
It seems like striking fear into the hearts of users to make them realize a ban is really on the table is in their best interest. They want to not be banned, and giving everyone a 48 hour show of users on the platform counting down to the end, then being really upset when they think it's gone is a great demonstration that people want their Tiktok.
* Trump gets a free layup to look like the hero for unbanning it
* Trump will think hard and heavy in the future about banning it again, knowing there's a lot of passionate young people that will reconsider voting for him next election if he does
Seems like a smart move to me.
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#919What's that saying? The best way to get a promotion is to cause a problem and then fix it? Political things aside, it's crazy to see so much of a flip-flop so quickly. Has there been any other behavior like this in the past where a company "shut themselves down" to make a big political statement and then almost immediately undid the shut down?
Not exactly the same but ChatGPT's firing and rehiring of Sam Altman seems to be in the same vein
Re: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
#920What's that saying? The best way to get a promotion is to cause a problem and then fix it? Political things aside, it's crazy to see so much of a flip-flop so quickly. Has there been any other behavior like this in the past where a company "shut themselves down" to make a big political statement and then almost immediately undid the shut down?
> Political things aside, it's crazy to see so much of a flip-flop so quickly Trump has never had any issue he has not been on both sides of. He has no ideology, he does what benefits him in the moment at any given moment.
According to the people I work with, all they care about is kids in cages. They value “tough talk” on immigration above anything else. Being influenced by Russia or China don’t even register.