What the hubbub about potential TikTok banning in the United States could mean

[NickRowler]

It is a bit maddening. It seems like a bunch of politicians are upset because their kids and grandkids are into an app that was made by Chinese people.

There has been some actual criticism on the app when it came to user discussing human rights issues in China being censored. Yet, it seems like the major issue politicians are focusing on is data collecting from Americans.

[Crusoe]

Ah yeah, I'm not from the US, so 'we' don't have as much beef with china. Sure, my country has internal problems as well, but from on outside perspective not as much as the US no. From that perspective banning Tiktok was a very irresponsible move just to make a statement rather than to actually prevent companies taking advantage of the consumer.

This is a pointing at "foreign devils" for a potential problem we haven't addressed internally as a country.

Can I ask what specific problem you're refering to here?

[Kiweevil]

Just gonna say it, there's a ton of American based companies that would just as willingly exploit your data.

[NickRowler]

I know, like Google. For some reason they think I have a baby and they keep showing me diaper ads, I hate it.

[Kiweevil]

What, seriously? Me too! Instagram has been hitting me with new mother targeting ads nonstop

[NickRowler]

If you go to Instagram settings.
Click on Privacy and Settings.
Click on view Account Data.
Click on Ad Interests View All.

You will then get a list of what they think you are in to due to data collecting.

[Kiweevil]

Anywho, I think there are other apps that they should actually be focusing on. There are apps on the play store right now that market themselves as AI's, ones mostly used to text when you're feeling depressed or alone. They are essentially market as a virtual friend who learns about you and gets smarter everytime you text it.

However, I've dug through the terms of agreement for these apps. Despite them blatantly insisting that the apps don't data mine or sell your data, the terms of agreement actually says that the data collected is sold to companies like Amazon.

[aqua03]

Honestly, I mostly hate TikTok for just how little moderation there is on a site/app aimed mostly at kids and teenagers. Like, I've seen a bunch of crazy stuff on TikTok done by kids and teens that just gets a free pass. As long as you're not fat, ugly, disabled, or criticize China, then it seem you're A-OK to do nearly whatever your heart desires on there. (No, I'm not making that part up. TikTok themselves admitted to purposefully hiding disabled and conventionally unattractive people because reasons. Go look it up. TikTok's wild and I hate it.)

[Kiweevil]

Yeah, insta is really bad about it. They are owned by Facebook afterall. In fact, if I wanted to promote my art, I could explicitly choose what types of userbase I want my ad to target. And it can get earily specific. Like, I could choose to target people who look at content from specific fandoms.

[Kiweevil]

Tik Tok is practically a breeding ground for predators for that same reason, and it makes me physically sick. You've got a bunch of 14-year-old girls shaking their ass cheeks who aren't always mentally developed enough to recognize when they're being targeted by an older man.

[skicoak]

The ban for Tik Tok is not crazy. U.S. is not alone in this, other countries have done the same. The amount of data TikTok needs from you to register is a little excessive. Personally, it would raise flags for me, even if the company wasn't based out of China. Sometimes, you have to stop and think "why?" before following the masses.

Like it's being mentioned below, if it's about the amount of data being collected... Start there.

There's a correlation in how certain parties used scare tactics on immigration issues to remove civil liberties and freedoms from the broader citizenship. And then were shocked when it was used against the protesters.

This feels similar...use fear of "foreign threats" to weaponize an issue into a tool to obtain other sketchy goals.

Can I ask what specific problem you're refering to here?

Data collection. It's just as much an issue with U.S. based sources than external.

[aqua03]

Yeah, that's also what disgusts me about it and it's predecessor Musical.ly as well. The fact that it seems no one brings up that honestly really big problem part of TikTok when talking about reasons to get it banned and go straight to the "Data collecting from China" (Which is also a big problem, don't get me wrong) always kinda frustrates me in that regard to no end regarding the the main discourse around TikTok.

[skicoak]

Yeah, that's also what disgusts me about it and it's predecessor Musical.ly as well. The fact that it seems no one brings up that honestly really big problem part of TikTok when talking about reasons to get it banned

Because that's not an issue that can be legislated or rule booked away.

There's frankly nothing an app can do to regulate against the spectrum of issues around age appropriate content and interaction.

We, as a group, are sitting on our own similar timebomb. A southern conservative jury is going to have no problem believing the cartoon drawings and bright colors of many of these titles on Tapas are a lure to underaged readers to be exposed to "things".

[Freemints30]

that or an an elderly person.

I Don't use tiktok. I hate you can post some VERy shady shit. while they also hide away people for, just as said before, having a disablity. Like that makes total sense.

[DiegoPalacios]

We, as a group, are sitting on our own similar timebomb. A southern conservative jury is going to have no problem believing the cartoon drawings and bright colors of many of these titles on Tapas are a lure to underaged readers to be exposed to "things".

It can be Coppa all over again........The problem is that to filter content faster many sites seem to be relying on bots, but they havent developed enough to gather the data outside surface appearance. (that is why some adult cartoons end up appearing on the kids category on youtube by default.)

[DiegoPalacios]

I would not just call it an american company thing, this is a world wide issue and is used in other countries too.

Advertisers love having the data to reach the right people after all......

[rajillustration]

I think that Tapas and Webtoon doesn't collect nearly as much data as TicTok did, so we're better off as far as it being a fear of abusive data collection. There's actually places you can check to see how much data is being collected I've just never checked myself--but I assume it's less than TicTok. I think the reasoning is far more political, especially since we're right before an election. Tapas and Webtoon, however, while it does have political cartoons, isn't very political at all. I can't see anyone justifying that Tapas would try to sway the next election, youknow?

[skicoak]

I think the reasoning is far more political, especially since we're right before an election. Tapas and Webtoon, however, while it does have political cartoons, isn't very political at all. I can't see anyone justifying that Tapas would try to sway the next election, youknow?

Taking away any media composed of independent voices is a form of political control.

[rajillustration]

oh yeah, and I think he's still pissed about all the TicTok Kpop stans buying out his rally a month ago and then leaving a lot of the seats empty.

[skicoak]

and I think he's still pissed about all the TicTok Kpop stans buying out his rally a month ago and then leaving a lot of the seats empty.

And by convincing enough people that it's just a site for KIDS to dance and do silly things...then season it with a little "Pedophiles prey on there"...cook it at 350 degrees of "data collection by foreign parties".

You got a censorship cake that you can sell to the short sited.