• Nobody@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Are there whataboutism arguments? Yes, many.

    Has Chinese intelligence lost access to a treasure trove of US data? Yes.

    Are US kids’ already dwindling attention spans going to be saved from exposure to the TikTok algorithm? Yes.

    I fail to see how this is a bad thing.

    • Woozythebear@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      You’re the type of person to hate on China for the way they control the internet then root for the same thing to happen here.

      • Rakonat@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Apples to Oranges. This isn’t about preventing TikTok users from seeing content the US deems harmful, it’s the delivery mechanism for that content is such a gaping hole of security it doesn’t even qualify as a backdoor espionage. It’s going straight through the front door to gather data illicitly for reasons unknown. Adversarial nations are marked such for good reason and not a title lightly given.

        TikTok isn’t the only social media that should be banned here but I’m honestly struggling to understand why people are fighting so hard to defend it, it’s a massive data leaking engine that harvests so much more information that it needs for people to share funny fortnite dances and cat videos. That and siix months from now if the ban goes through some other app is going to pop up to fill the void while existing apps and social media platforms have already been trying to cater to the short video sharing for a long time now.

    • Thorny_Insight@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      I fail to see how this is a bad thing.

      I agree with the chinese intelligence part but other than that, this is basically the government telling you how to live your life rather than letting you choose yourself. In my opinion we should be allowed to make bad choices. What’s next? Ban on sugar and mandatory excercise for everyone? Obviously I’m being hyperbolic but this is a step in exactly that direction.

      • Redecco@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Agree that the hyperbolic situations would be problematic but luckily tiktok is only one of the many social media options out there. I’d also consider that content like tiktok can be targeted at kids who arent developed enough to make the right choices yet. Taking freedom away is bad but getting hooked on tiktok is hardly a passive choice when it’s the platforms goal to keep you swiping and social influence makes it near impossible to avoid. I’d see it as a grey area when taking choices away. Like removing a lot of extra sugar from school lunches I think was already a goal, as is taking physical fitness in school. There are choices to avoid those options so it’s not a blanket ban on that opportunity, but I definitely don’t see it as a slippery slope.

        There will be something new that pops up. Or the US companies out there might just buy tiktok anyways.

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      saved from exposure to the TikTok algorithm?

      I don’t understand. It will just be bought. It won’t go anywhere.