• GodlessCommie@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    The number of people in the comments celebrating censorship by our own government while also claiming China is authoritarian is insane.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      4 days ago

      Both can be true. I’m against banning TikTok, but I also think TikTok is absolutely terrible and nobody should use it. China is authoritarian, and this ban by the US is wrong. I say this as an American.

      • GodlessCommie@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Why is it terrible? Have you ever even been on it? Most people I’ve encountered that say it’s terrible or it’s brain rot or something along those lines have never even been on it, they’re simply parroting what they’ve heard other people say

        • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          How do you know heroin is bad for you? Have you tried it? You can’t say it’s bad unless you’ve tried it.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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          3 days ago

          Where do I begin:

          1. China has more-or-less direct control over the app, and China is an enemy of the US
          2. extensive tracking
          3. it’s designed specifically to be addictive instead of beneficial

          Other SM apps do 2 and 3, but that doesn’t mean TikTok is okay, it means those other apps are also terrible.

            • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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              2 days ago

              I’m guessing you’re talking about the first point, so I looked into it and it seems China only owns a “golden share” (1%?), which doesn’t seem big enough to really cause problems. That said, I don’t know much about Chinese business, so maybe there’s still something there. But that’s just speculation, not evidence.

              That said, that doesn’t change my opinion of it being terrible, because the last two points still stand. They also apply to domestic social media apps as well.

              I’ll repeat it again, I don’t think it should be banned, but I also don’t think anyone should use it.

              • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                That’s the thing, the last time the government did something this sweeping without showing it’s evidence, me and a few hundred thousand of my best buddies got sent to Iraq.

                • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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                  2 days ago

                  Banning a SM app is nothing like declaring a War on Terror. For the record, I opposed both, as well as the War in Afghanistan. I’m sorry you were sent to fight in a pointless war.

                  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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                    2 days ago

                    Oh I’m not saying the damage is equivalent. But generally the government needs to show it’s work in a democracy, if we want to keep the democracy.