TikTok ban?

[TOMTE]

The ban has more to do with money and control than it does national security.

 

[TOMTE]

Sorry for spamming multiple posts in a row here but I'm thinking out loud... I change my answer, actually, after thinking about it. I hate TikTok, but I don't support the ban. Autonomy is much more important than my feelings about a stupid, brain-rotting app. I will ALWAYS support autonomy, I will NEVER support control.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

China makes the majority of our electronics, they already spy on us. Loads of people have an Alexa or a Siri that listens to everything they say. And the vast majority of people have cell phones and they absolutely listen into your conversations. So, the "China spying on us" view is moot.

China owns nearly half a million acres of American farmland. That sounds like far more of a security threat than any app, yet the land issue is completely ignored

China is merely an excuse for censorship

I agree completely that TikTok has taken too much from our children's lives and many adults' lives as well

My grandfather was killed by a drunk driver, yet alcohol is legal. Two of my family members died from cancer caused by smoking cigarettes, yet cigarettes are legal. I remember multiple people dying from playing World of Warcraft in the 2000s yet World of Warcraft has always remained legal

The TikTok ban has absolutely nothing to do with protecting people

 

[tripletfeb]

China owns nearly half a million acres of American farmland. That sounds like far more of a security threat than any app, yet the land issue is completely ignored

China is merely an excuse for censorship

My grandfather was killed by a drunk driver, yet alcohol is legal. Two of my family members died from cancer caused by smoking cigarettes, yet cigarettes are legal. I remember multiple people dying from playing World of Warcraft in the 2000s yet World of Warcraft has always remained legal

The TikTok ban has absolutely nothing to do with protecting people

Tis true

 

[The Birb King]

Eh tiktok sucks anyway so I don't really care

 

[CombNWattles]

This whole issue is super interesting. I feel like there has been good discussion about the issues of security, freedom of speech, and the technology’s effects.
I would like to speak to this last point, or more accurately, share some materials I have found enormously helpful.

The first is the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It is well worth the time and resources to read it. Here is an article he wrote explaining some of the key concepts of his book.

The second is this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, with Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Becky Kennedy. They are discussing parenting and relationships, but they talk about the use of technology and how it affects frustration tolerance. Skip ahead to the 1:40 minute mark for the tech discussion.

This was super eye-opening for me, and I immediately started noticing the phenomenon in my own life.

I hope you all find these resources helpful and interesting.

 

[Noraaaaa]

Sorry for spamming multiple posts in a row here but I'm thinking out loud... I change my answer, actually, after thinking about it. I hate TikTok, but I don't support the ban. Autonomy is much more important than my feelings about a stupid, brain-rotting app. I will ALWAYS support autonomy, I will NEVER support control.

Yeah no you’re good! I like hearing other people’s viewpoints.

 

[Noraaaaa]

This whole issue is super interesting. I feel like there has been good discussion about the issues of security, freedom of speech, and the technology’s effects.
I would like to speak to this last point, or more accurately, share some materials I have found enormously helpful.

The first is the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It is well worth the time and resources to read it. Here is an article he wrote explaining some of the key concepts of his book.

The second is this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, with Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Becky Kennedy. They are discussing parenting and relationships, but they talk about the use of technology and how it affects frustration tolerance. Skip ahead to the 1:40 minute mark for the tech discussion.

This was super eye-opening for me, and I immediately started noticing the phenomenon in my own life.

I hope you all find these resources helpful and interesting.

I will be looking at them! Thanks for linking them!

 

[febane]

The platform itself is not what I worry about; it is the fact that currently it is in the hands of China. Please hear me out here. During 2018 and 2019, I worked for VIP Kids, which is based in Beijing. For three contract terms, I taught Chinese children how to speak English. An ad to join TikTok came across my screen while I was taking a break between students, so I knew it existed before it became popular here in the USA. During my terms, I became very uneasy in my dealings with the China-based program:
*Any earnings on any book or teaching material I wrote (or write in the future) is to be shared with the company. They really do claim our intellectual property.
*Three of my students talked to me about Christmas, one was going shopping for her sisters, one had a lit Christmas tree behind him, one was super excited about Santa, and it reminded me of something I read on https://tiktok.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html about how sensitive topics can lead to sudden changes. They were immediately taken off my schedule. These were students who had been on my schedule Monday thru Friday for months, and their parents chose me.
*If a teacher sipped water, coffee, or even had a cough drop during the 23-27 minute session, that teacher would not get paid for the class.
*If a student was moving paper, writing, drinking--anything at all other than full engagement--the student would receive a text message (which I could see was written in Chinese) and the student would stop whatever it was.
*There are other things I witnessed, like parents hiding under sheets behind the students, peeking out. Just so shady.
*Everything we did, every step we took, everything we said was all monitored. The Chinese government was virtually in my home, and it did not feel right at all, so I stopped allowing them access by not signing any more contracts with them.

I understand where you're coming from. TikTok can be fun and harmless, like with your chicken content, but the influence it has, especially on young people, is real and sometimes concerning. It spreads information fast, which can be powerful but also dangerous if used irresponsibly. While other platforms have similar issues, TikTok gets more attention because of how widespread and addictive it is. I don’t think banning it is necessarily the answer, but I do agree it would be healthy if more people unplugged and reconnected with real life.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

One of the main reasons I hate about TikTok that isn't talked about enough is some of the media on there. It's just pure brainrot. People spreading hate about other people, beauty standards, etc. And of course, parents let their kids watch that stuff and kids then of course think everything they see is real and accurate and start spreading fake information, girls try to own up to extreme beauty standards, and everyone spreads hate about other people. People just need to do their own research instead of relying on social media is what I think personally. Do you like the content and feel like it'll be useful, or is your brain just addicted to it? You see, some stuff on TikTok is fine, like cooking vids or informational things about history, DIY's etc. You may use that for future reference. But the other stuff, like people doing makeup/skincare routines, people doing weird dances, why do you need to watch that ? What the heck do you gain from watching that?
Just my opinions.