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Original poster

TikTok ban in the US - what’s the aim here?

129 replies

Errors · 18/01/2025 22:30

I couldn’t see another thread on this. If there is one, please link it as it’d be interesting to read.

Is this genuine concern over harvesting of data? Or a play to pull all social media in the US under government control? Musk already owns X, if he was to buy TikTok then surely you’re looking at large swathes of social media being run by the government?

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EasternStandard · 19/01/2025 11:52

Lilifer · 19/01/2025 11:47

Exactly it's so dumb, like that kids story about the boy trying to block the hole in the dam with his hand, there will always be another tik tok to replace this one - the only way for the US or any western country to clamp down on these platforms is, ironically, to because like China itself and exert complete totalitarian control, which kind of defeats the purpose really

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I know those who are for the ban are incredibly shortsighted

Snorlaxo · 19/01/2025 11:51

Rispa42 · 19/01/2025 11:31

There’s also a ‘reciprocity’ issue - American internet / social media companies like Google, YouTube, facebook, LinkedIn etc are banned in China. Why should the US allow Chinese companies to operate in the US?

America is supposed to be the land of Free Speech. Banning a platform like TikTok is the opposite of that and has encouraged people to download another Chinese social media all (RedNote) rather then use American apps like Instagram and Facebook. I’d imagine that lots of viewers will simply use VPNs.

wriggleigglepiggle · 19/01/2025 11:49

You ban one, another one pops up

Lilifer · 19/01/2025 11:48

To "become" like china itself I meant - can't edit in the app!

Lilifer · 19/01/2025 11:47

spuddy4 · 19/01/2025 11:39

Everyone will just join Red Note instead so banning TikTok achieves nothing.

Exactly it's so dumb, like that kids story about the boy trying to block the hole in the dam with his hand, there will always be another tik tok to replace this one - the only way for the US or any western country to clamp down on these platforms is, ironically, to because like China itself and exert complete totalitarian control, which kind of defeats the purpose really

noblegiraffe · 19/01/2025 11:44

spuddy4 · 19/01/2025 11:39

Everyone will just join Red Note instead so banning TikTok achieves nothing.

The Chinese government certainly do seem to be the winners here.

noblegiraffe · 19/01/2025 11:43

Martymcfly24 · 19/01/2025 11:34

Can I ask @noblegiraffe what propaganda do you have the issue with. I know you have cited the letter but what other cases of propaganda are there on TikTok.
Just because we don't agree with it doesn't mean it's propaganda.

You don't think that a shedload of videos promoting a positive view of Osama bin Laden and his terrorist attacks on the US counts as propaganda, merely something that you disagree with?

I don't use TikTok. But for other examples on other platforms some stuff I'm seeing reportedly coming out of these Rednote interactions with Americans, some of those don't pass the sniff test because of the lies they are spreading.

Musk flooding twitter with how Starmer is complicit in rape and the UK is headed for civil war I would also count as propaganda because it is definitely political in intention, and wanting to destabilise our government and install one more friendly to foreign interests.

Back to TikTok, spreading disinformation - that Wayfair conspiracy that actually hindered police from being able to investigate actual child trafficking was horrendous. I don't think that was a propaganda effort, although I could be wrong, I don't know anything really about the origins of it.

SerendipityJane · 19/01/2025 11:42

BananaNirvana · 19/01/2025 08:38

I would imagine Trump will sweep into power tomorrow and reverse the decision so he looks like the saviour of TikTok 🙄

He can't. It needs to be repealed by congress.

Mermaidsarereal · 19/01/2025 11:42

badwife23 · 19/01/2025 09:15

It's a video sharing app much like YouTube. I have gotten loads of useful information and inspiration from it. It's not all toxic drivel and if that's what you're seeing it's because somewhere the algorithm has identified that's what you want to see.

I feel really sorry for Americans who have made businesses and livelihoods from TikTok. I still don't fully understand why it's being banned but I don't think it's up to those jn power to determine how we use social media.

Totally agree! I enjoy watching cooking, baking, crafting videos on there. Yes, you get the odd few daft videos of people burping out songs etc but I just scroll past or press dislike!

Costcolover · 19/01/2025 11:41

BananaNirvana · 19/01/2025 08:38

I would imagine Trump will sweep into power tomorrow and reverse the decision so he looks like the saviour of TikTok 🙄

He can’t! There's processes to go through that even he can’t override

Costcolover · 19/01/2025 11:41

LoraNorder · 19/01/2025 08:37

Discussion here.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/5254439-aibu-to-think-tiktok-should-be-banned-in-the-uk-too

Anyone who thinks this is about protecting American citizens is spectacularly naive

You sound spectacularly naive tbh you need to stop believing all the conspiracy shite you read online

spuddy4 · 19/01/2025 11:39

Everyone will just join Red Note instead so banning TikTok achieves nothing.

EasternStandard · 19/01/2025 11:36

biscuitsandbooks · 19/01/2025 11:32

lol.

How is that any different to all the scam ads on Facebook or Instagram? Or all the paid for links when you search for things on Google? Or all the cheap mass-made stuff on Amazon or Etsy?

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I agree with you people do need to make decent decisions and avoid scam ads

Martymcfly24 · 19/01/2025 11:34

Can I ask @noblegiraffe what propaganda do you have the issue with. I know you have cited the letter but what other cases of propaganda are there on TikTok.
Just because we don't agree with it doesn't mean it's propaganda.

biscuitsandbooks · 19/01/2025 11:32

Thepurplepig · 19/01/2025 10:44

It is a huge security risk. If you have it delete it from your phone. I’ve heard a lot of bleating saying it helps small businesses. What utter BS. The last thing I saw on there before I wised up was some guy trying to flog a computer that reads error codes on your car for £8. He was claiming it was the same as the readers that mechanics use for £6/7000. He was encouraging people to just delete error codes rather than getting your car actually fixed. He blocked me when I pointed out most error codes will come back if you don’t fix the issue.

If TikTok bans mean all this crap goes away where does the uk sign up?

lol.

How is that any different to all the scam ads on Facebook or Instagram? Or all the paid for links when you search for things on Google? Or all the cheap mass-made stuff on Amazon or Etsy?

BelligerentToad · 19/01/2025 11:31

noblegiraffe · 19/01/2025 11:25

It is astonishing that people think that a broken education system (and I definitely include England in this) can counteract incredibly powerful propaganda on a platform designed to be addictive.

Some of the kids I teach have recorded 12 hours in a day on TikTok. I'm sure that can be solved with a lesson or two Hmm

Aside from that, how many times have you heard people say 'I wish I had been taught budgeting/healthy eating/mental health' or whatever at school, when these things were on the curriculum, they just didn't pay any attention to them.

As an aside, I'd be happy for teens to read bin Laden's letter, it's a pile of offensive crap and they'd be bored within seconds. No way would they get through it.

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Children shouldn’t be on SM at all, I agree that’s a big problem.

Rispa42 · 19/01/2025 11:31

There’s also a ‘reciprocity’ issue - American internet / social media companies like Google, YouTube, facebook, LinkedIn etc are banned in China. Why should the US allow Chinese companies to operate in the US?

BelligerentToad · 19/01/2025 11:29

Thepurplepig · 19/01/2025 11:22

All available on other platforms such as YouTube.

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So google doesn’t harvest our data?

BelligerentToad · 19/01/2025 11:28

Point 1. It is a huge security risk. Meta harvests data for targeted ads. This is how they make money. They are not spying for a communist government. If you do not see what the issue is with foreign governments having access to huge amounts of data from foreign citizens maybe you’re the one the that needs to stay off the internet.

If this is the reason for the ban (and it very obviously isn’t) then why haven’t they first banned the worst culprits? Why TikTok?
Why not start with the places that have actually proven to be a problem? Oh wait, because their owners are some of the billionaires telling the government what to do….

noblegiraffe · 19/01/2025 11:25

BelligerentToad · 19/01/2025 11:14

I agree, but banning this stuff isn’t the answer.

The US education system (and increasingly the UK) is patchy at best and leaves many with sub standard levels of education. This is how to fix it. Telling people they’re not allowed to read xyz, whether propaganda or not, will push more people towards it.

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It is astonishing that people think that a broken education system (and I definitely include England in this) can counteract incredibly powerful propaganda on a platform designed to be addictive.

Some of the kids I teach have recorded 12 hours in a day on TikTok. I'm sure that can be solved with a lesson or two Hmm

Aside from that, how many times have you heard people say 'I wish I had been taught budgeting/healthy eating/mental health' or whatever at school, when these things were on the curriculum, they just didn't pay any attention to them.

As an aside, I'd be happy for teens to read bin Laden's letter, it's a pile of offensive crap and they'd be bored within seconds. No way would they get through it.

Thepurplepig · 19/01/2025 11:22

wriggleigglepiggle · 19/01/2025 11:04

I buy a lot of toiletries from TikTok shop, also there's a lot of good revision stuff on there for my students

All available on other platforms such as YouTube.

Thepurplepig · 19/01/2025 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

noblegiraffe · 19/01/2025 11:21

Martymcfly24 · 19/01/2025 11:14

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12890583/americans-osama-bin-laden-poll-gen-zers.html

It is quite ironic to use the Daily Mail poll to discuss people getting their information from dodgy unbiased news sources.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/11/16/tech/tiktok-osama-bin-laden-letter-to-america

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A poll commissioned by the Daily Mail isn't the same thing as a Daily Mail poll. Have you got concerns about the polling company J.L. Partners or their methods? https://jlpartners.com

J.L. Partners.

From city to state to nationwide, we find out what and how people think.

https://jlpartners.com

Martymcfly24 · 19/01/2025 11:19

Apologies the second link to CNN said the TikToks had been viewed 14 million times and many were against it.
I have seen cats on robot vacuums with more views.