Trump Backs Elon Musk as Possible TikTok Buyer, Suggests Government Stake

[krspkbl]

Good. Let him destroy that too.

Seriously though... this is dangerous. But I guess the damage is done now. You got what you wanted. Deal with it.

 

[krspkbl]

"He who controls the spice, controls the universe!"

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

 

[vantelimus]

Umm you understand the last 4 years of the administration started this no?

No it didn't. Trump started this all on August 6, 2020, when he signed Executive Order 13942, titled Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, and Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain.

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What happened during the Biden administration is that the Congress passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, with bipartisan support.

 

[Audit13]

Maybe fold TikTok into the DoGE? What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?

 

[transmaster]

If you look at India, they banned all Chinese-based apps, which included TikTok.

 

[vantelimus]

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

I doubt the majority here have read the book.

 

[Slix]

I've been saying this for years, but it's time for everyone to move back to their own websites. Share them with your friends, share them on social media, but own your own content.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I get what you are saying but good luck putting that genie back in the bottle. Didn’t even work with alcohol back in the day, won’t work with social media.

Do what’s right for you. I’m pretty done with social media myself.

That is a good analogy. Drugs, alcohol, anything people want that other people tell them they shouldn't have will always have a market. And social media has the exact same effects on the brain. In small doses under the right circumstances, not very harmful and maybe even helpful. But horribly addicting and life ruining to regular users.

And of course in both cases, big money is an extremely corrupting factor.

 

[krspkbl]

If you look at India, they banned all Chinese-based apps, which included TikTok.

It should be banned which is what it is made out to be. It was banned temporarily.

The USA wants to control TikTok. Control over the users and the product. They are just angry that China is getting your data and not them. China spy = bad. US spy = good.

 

[krspkbl]

I doubt the majority here have read the book.

I wouldn't expect most people to read a book these days when their attention span only extends 15 seconds.

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

But it's alright that the television and newspapers are primary controlled by left wing organizations.

Cable news and the countries largest newspapers were a great benefit to Trump last election. There are no left wing organization that has even a fraction of media ownership than right-wing/corporate owners.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I've been saying this for years, but it's time for everyone to move back to their own websites. Share them with your friends, share them on social media, but own your own content.

Stallman and others said this for decades. It started with not owning or controlling the local computer. Then they took identity management, and then the content.

It's too complicated for the average person, and there's no money in making it easier for them. I totally agree with the principle, but consolidation in ISPs and hosting providers has also short circuited that idea. If it's not Meta, hosting the content, then it's just one layer down the stack with a different company. WordPress, Microsoft, Amazon, or Google will still hold the actual data. ISPs don't allow websites on personal accounts.

I don't know the answer here. People like Tim Berners-Lee are trying to take it back. But it remains a fringe interest because the public simply doesn't understand. They managed to quickly politicize the concept of network neutrality to the point that the public thought that actually meant the opposite of what it means.

I read these sci fi books that have interoperable computers and people just freely exchanging data over network nodes and it all sounds ridiculous. Not because it's technically impossible, but because the incentives would never allow it to happen. Everything has become siloed.

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

Government ownership of the media is a historical hallmark of socialist, communist, and fascist regimes. It is antithetical to democracy. This is quite unAmerican. It raises all sorts of red flags from violating the first amendment, to destroying the traditional separation between the government and the fourth estate, to it's conflict with free-market principles, to risks to democracy as it could normalize authoritarian control over information.

FoxNews, WaPo, CNN, etc etc are all privately owned and are a detriment to democracy when it's controlled by the rich.

 

[mrr]

For Elon Musk’s $200M political “donation” to Trump, Musk will get anything he wants.

 

[SmugMaverick]

If TikTok gets sold to Elon, just about every single major social media company is then controlled by billionaire tech bros who are all kissing Trump's ring and have proven willing to do just about anything he asks (i.e. demands).

The goal seems to be to have power to control speech and amplify/suppress whatever they want to amplify/suppress.

Not concerning at all. Nothing to worry about. What could possibly go wrong.

Yet we're told non stop how this is bad in China while the US does this in plain sight.

 

[vantelimus]

FoxNews, WaPo, CNN, etc etc are all privately owned and are a detriment to democracy when it's controlled by the rich.

Absolutely. And government ownership doesn't improve that situation, especially when Trump has put a billionaire buddy in charge of every critical executive function.

 

[dannyyankou]

I wouldn't expect most people to read a book these days when their attention span only extends 15 seconds.

This is what I hate about TikTok the most I think. I like to think of TikTok as the digital version of fast food. Addiction, instant gratification, and it’s bad for your health.

 

[Osxguy]

First they came for Twitter,
And I did not speak out—
For I thought it was just noise.


Then they came for TikTok,
And I did not speak out—
For I dismissed it as frivolous.

Then they came for the indie bloggers,
The ones who told the stories no one else would,
And I did not speak out—
For their words were buried by algorithms.

Then they came for the journalists,
The ones who challenged the lies,
And I did not speak out—

For I thought truth could survive on its own.

Then a dictator rose,
Wielding tweets like weapons,
Spinning lies into chaos,
And I did not speak out—
For I believed he could never succeed.

Now the platforms are controlled,
The voices silenced,
And when I try to speak,
I find no one left to listen.

 

[robvalentine]

Think this headline actually burying the lede. Trump wants the government to own 50%? Was not aware government ownership of private companies was a well known conservative principle here in the US.

Propaganda machine, fits in nicely with their fascism.

 

[kaycrystal626]

I trust Larry Ellison more than Elon!

 

[Apple$]

Mr beast is also in the running.

All social media apps should be banned, too much trouble with them.

I feel like Mr. Beast SHOULD buy TikTok. I think he’s the least insane person to consider acquiring TikTok.

 

[MNWildFan]

Or another platform to ruin? Not that I love Tik Tok.. but Twitter has gone down the drain...

Oh gosh, has Twitter (yes, I will forever REFUSE to call it X; such a stupid name) has really gone downhill under Musk

The biggest mistake they made making verified/blue checks a paid feature; something that got exploited very quickly as anyone who is willing to pony up the monthly fee could then impersonate anyone they want to

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

I feel like Mr. Beast SHOULD buy TikTok. I think he’s the least insane person to consider acquiring TikTok.

least insane but still insane

 

[Night Spring]

99% of instances of a "conservative" getting booted off a service I've seen has been because the person has been advocating violence or otherwise speaking in an inflammatory manner toward another group.

And also for posting misinformation, such as ivermectin will cure Covid, or FEMA will take your house if you apply for aid.

 

[Dr McKay]

Watch Elon buy it and call it “S” or “E”, and bring out a third app so you can spell “SEX” with his app icons on your home screen.