Tom CoatesI feel like I can hold in my head two things concurrently (a) that a social media company that a hundred million Americans use that is heavily influenced by a hostile foreign government is a bad thing and (b) that I absolutely love TikTok and will hugely miss it.
Again, though, these are arguments for decentralized social media products. If TikTok ran on the protocols that lie behind Mastodon or BlueSky, then a foreign-owned potentially problematic app could be shut down without everyone’s creativity and work disappearing. You could use another app.
The big lesson here is that centralization and very large platform power is the problem, as can be seen in the US right now with Elon’s takeover of Twitter, TikTok’s shutdown and Zuckerberg’s lurch to the right.
Monopolistic platforms are the problem. Open protocols and decentralized clients are the answer. Not an uncomplicated answer. Not necessarily an easy answer. But in this respect and many more the only serious answer.
In the meantime, please try and remember at least when Trump declares he will save us all from Democrat overreach that banning TikTok was literally his idea https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-tiktok/
samf@tomcoates It passed through congress and was signed by Biden. Doesn’t matter if Trump mentioned it first, this administration allowed it to happen. And now Trump is positioned to “save” it. 🫠
@samf Oh don’t be absurd. Of course it matters that Trump advocated for it first. I’m not saying he’s entirely responsible, I’m saying we shouldn’t allow him to pretend he wasn’t part of this process. It’s a political no brainer.
@tomcoates It matters in a reality where facts are respected and critical thinking is a thing. America left that behind. I’d love if the left held him accountable for this, but seeing as no one holds Trump accountable for anything, I’m not holding my breath.
Rewriting his position on the ban is just yet another lie on a massive pile of his lies.
@samf yeah but surely the point here is that I’m literally trying to be part of holding him accountable and making it clear he was responsible for the idea. If you want him to be held accountable too, isn’t the right thing to keep spreading the same evidence?
@tomcoates Fair point. I won’t fault you for that. I’m just tired man.
@samf I’m 100% with you. Absolutely fucked here.