• Jesus@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It’s going to be to their advantage to claim that they’re shutting down, even if they actually want that $50B buyout. If they say they’re going to sell, they’re going to lose what little leverage they have left. The public that wants TikTok will get TikTok, and the public is going to stop pestering politicians about it.

    • treadful@lemmy.zip
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      2 months ago

      The public that wants TikTok will get TikTok, and the public is going to stop pestering politicians about it.

      Has their user base mobilized at all? Maybe it’s just because I don’t use TikTok but I haven’t really heard much from their users about the ban. Which has been kind of unexpected.

      • firadin@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Apparently TikTok sent out push notifications telling users to call their representatives. Minors were being provided instructions with their representatives’ phone numbers and contact info, but didn’t even know who they were calling and were asking basic questions like “What is Congress?”

        Kind of shows the amount of power TikTok has over American youth.

        • someguy3@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I love how they demonstrated they aren’t influencing people by sending out a mass message telling people what to do. It doesn’t get any more comical than that.

          • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Malign influence. Telling people to participate in democracy isn’t a bad thing.

            • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Yes but telling an army of thirteen year olds doing dance videos to call representatives is worthless, if anything it hurts TikToks argument since it proves they’re doing the influencing of Americans that the government wants them not doing

            • someguy3@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              You missed the entire point. They declared 1) We are not doing anything of that sort, then: 2) they did exactly things of that sort. It’s like a slap stick comedy show.

        • Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          And facebook tells its users to vote. Encouraging people to make their voices heard and engage in the democratic process is a good thing.

          • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I’d say absolutely, if Cambridge Analytica wasn’t a thing. I’d honestly rather have people not vote than be motivated to go vote because they think the liberal communists are putting fluoride in water to make frogs gay.

            It’s somehow always the organizations and individuals who are trying to manipulate people that seem to care the most about people’s voices being heard in politics. Churches, social media, daytime TV, that crazy uncle you don’t like to talk to at family gatherings…

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Why though? Why would they give up their trade secrets? They have a global market.

      • Jesus@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        They could sell the user accounts and content and let another company clip that into their own recommendation algo.

        I’ve been a part of a few tech acquisitions that have worked this way. They keep their secret sauce but hand over the community.

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Yeah that’s certainly possible. I just don’t think it will go the way people are thinking.

        • lud@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          The question is if anyone would buy it without the algorithm and the other stuff worth money. Users by themselves aren’t very useful if everyone leaves after a day.

          • Jesus@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            It would come down to price. I’m sure someone would pay for the content, accounts, and brand. But what dollar amount are we talking about when the algo isn’t on the table.

          • Serinus@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            The algorithm either isn’t as valuable as they believe or the government’s concern is legitimate and we have a real problem.

    • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      When you’re forced to participate in capitalism, your only option is to play the game. I agree, this is mostly just a bluff.