Our son has been trying to get my wife and I on TikTok for years now but we've been hesitant because the US media claims the Chinese Government builds profiles for every TikTok user with all of your personal data. As with everything today it's hard to know what to believe but, as you say, it's all just a huge competition to control the narrative. Every country is doing it and the more powerful the country, the further the reach they have. What strange times we live in! Have you heard the new Joe Rogan podcast episode (#2234) with Marc Andreessen?
It's pretty fascinating. He talks about some of this.
The app didn't ask for much info, just an email and maybe birth date... maybe. My data is already available to many entities out there. Using US apps, the Americans have it, the Russians know about me as I follow some of their accounts on Telegram, why wouldn't the Chinese have it as well? And, of course, our various secret services know who I vote for...
I heard about that Joe Rogan episode, seemed pretty scary... I didn't get to listen to it as I'm focused on local issues these days... I will though. Thanks!
Speaking of... have you listened to the latest Tucker Carlson show, the one with Glenn Greenwald? Also very scary. They talked a lot about censorship and views you're not supposed to hear. That's why I got TikTok, just to hear what these guys have to say... Not planning to stick around much, though. This app is too confusing, very noisy, plus I have a campaign song stuck in my head now.
That's good to know. Most US citizens had their data stolen this year anyway (including our Social Security Numbers) so our "privacy" is pretty much a moot point now anyway. This JRE episode is scary but there's also some information that gives me hope as well. I haven't listen to the Carlson/Greenwald interview but will definitely check that out. Yes, TikTok was engineered to be as addictive as it possibly can be...supposedly THE most addictive of any of the socials. Our son says he has "missing time" sometimes. He starts scrolling on the app and hours disappear.