Read on Twitter
*deep breath*
Here’s what I think about the potential TikTok ban.
Here’s what I think about the potential TikTok ban.
I’ll say up front: I’m optimistic we will not see a flat-out ban of the platform. I have enough faith in Kevin Mayer and team to navigate this in a way that doesn’t result in that as the ultimate outcome.
That said, I do think this is serious and worth watching.
That said, I do think this is serious and worth watching.
I’ve said from the beginning that TikTok’s relationship with the US is on eggshells. Even if they aren’t collecting user data in the ways that have been alleged, any Chinese company having the level of cultural significance in the US as TikTok does will be a concern to US gvmnt
All of today’s biggest popular culture comes from TikTok.
That isn’t an overstatement. I’ll say it again:
All of today’s biggest popular culture comes from TikTok.
That isn’t an overstatement. I’ll say it again:
All of today’s biggest popular culture comes from TikTok.
Our music, celebrities, humor, and even some political movements start and catch fire on the platform.
More than anything, this is because of the product itself, which I’ve talked about before: https://twitter.com/lazaro/status/1224090031020630021">https://twitter.com/lazaro/st...
More than anything, this is because of the product itself, which I’ve talked about before: https://twitter.com/lazaro/status/1224090031020630021">https://twitter.com/lazaro/st...
Any Chinese company with this much influence over American popular culture is going to be highly (understandably) scrutinized, and the US government is going to be extra sensitive to keep them in check.
Right now is the perfect moment for this administration to act, theoretically. In a time of heightened political sensitivity, with an election coming up, and a President who still calls this global pandemic the “Chinese Virus” - banning TikTok is a flex of muscle
Side note: 100% there will be a right-wing article about TikTok being a second Chinese virus 
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I’m entirely sympathetic to the concern that any platform would collect user data illegally. I was terrified when we went through this with Facebook.
But we didn’t “ban” Facebook, and we didn’t even consider it in our discourse.
We went to court with Zuck. We created new laws. We worked with the company on a resolution.
We went to court with Zuck. We created new laws. We worked with the company on a resolution.
That’s what I hope we do with TikTok. It’s not right nor fair to flat-out ban a platform for political motives without giving an opportunity for that platform to correct itself.
Of course this will look different for a Chinese company, as it should. I understand the implications of any foreign company collecting data from users who are not citizens of that country.
But if that were our concern, we’d have banned Facebook for the sake of other countries.
But if that were our concern, we’d have banned Facebook for the sake of other countries.
Our current administration has made it abundantly clear that they view the US as separate and superior to the rest of the world.
But we live in a global society; a connected world. We shouldnt resort to banning a platform because of where it came from (sound familiar?)
But we live in a global society; a connected world. We shouldnt resort to banning a platform because of where it came from (sound familiar?)
TikTok is the most creative place on the internet. There are so many incredible creators doing interesting, hilarious, amazing things. Without TikTok, popular culture will suffer.
I’ll be very upset if they’re mining data. But that doesn’t mean we should ban them outright.
I’ll be very upset if they’re mining data. But that doesn’t mean we should ban them outright.
