The TikTok bill sets a dangerous precedent
For those of you cheering on the banning of TikTok, stop and consider what the government is really trying to do here.
I’ve used TikTok only once or twice before. And the only reason I did was because I was paid to write about the platform by a client.
To be honest, I don’t have much interest in social media anymore. Aside from Instagram which provides me with the occasional laugh or smile, I don’t feel as though any of these platforms add anything to my life. (That’s one of the reasons I quit Twitter.) And from what I’ve seen of TikTok and the dancing videos, voiceovers, and other inane shit people put on there, there is no joy to be had from it.
Do I care that TikTok is owned by the Chinese?
Not really. Most of the clothes and appliances Americans buy are mostly from there. While we should be extracting ourselves from brands that don’t align with our principles, that’s a personal choice. If you want to give your money and data to China, then by all means, have at it.
Do I care that TikTok’s Chinese counterpart Douyin sets healthy-use limits for Chinese kids but doesn’t do the same for those in the U.S.? Or that the algorithms provide Chinese users with enriching content vs. addictive garbage that everyone else sees?
Kind of but not really. While there’s clear manipulation at play, I place the blame on TikTok users more than I do the makers of TikTok.
If anyone believes they’re being spied on or manipulated, then why the hell use it? And if the issue is that children are using it, then maybe these parents should’ve thought about that before giving them smartphones and tablets to stare at before they were old enough to walk.
Lastly, do I care that our Congress is trying to ban TikTok?
Fuck yeah I do.
For starters, we need as little government in our lives as possible. If people have such a big problem with TikTok, then don’t use it.
Secondly, this is nothing more than a diversion tactic. Yet another way for Congress to convince people that they’re hard at work protecting the American people. And to give them something to put in their campaign videos that gets people all riled up.
“We saved you from the red menace!”
Uh, yeah, sure you did.
How’s about instead of sending billions of our tax dollars every month to countries like Ukraine and Israel, maybe you support the people here? Or stop the influx and resettling of illegal invaders? I know those are pretty far-fetched ideas, so just ignore me.
Lastly, the government should not be able to ban an app or wipe a business off the map in the United States.
Does anyone even remember 2020? The essentials vs. non-essentials? The businesses that no longer exist because of government “intervention”? The industries that were permanently disrupted (like restaurants) and that will never go back to the way they were? The massive wealth transfer that went from our pockets into those of the world’s biggest companies?
Or how about a more relevant example: Parler getting wiped out. Granted, it was “Apple” that banned the app. But come on, we all know who was behind it.
This sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. And it doesn’t matter who is in the White House. Once this becomes a weapon the government can officially yield, they will use this power to strike anyone down that they please.
So stop cheering for the banning of TikTok and take some accountability. If you really believe it’s a threat, then stop using it. And get your family, friends, and others who will listen to stop using it.
We don’t need big daddy government to save us from every perceived threat in this world. This is why we’re in this shitstorm right now.