- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
TikTok users have been deleting the app at a higher rate since the company announced that its U.S. operations would be housed in a new joint venture.
The short-form video platform’s daily average app uninstalls in the U.S. have increased nearly 150% over the past five days compared with the previous three months, market intelligence firm Sensor Tower told CNBC.


I find it funny that millions of people had no problem with an evil foreign government like the CCP, that’s well known for collecting data for military purposes and spending mind boggling amounts on propaganda campaigns, controlling the app, but now draw the line at some Silicon Valley billionaire doing essentially the same thing.
I never liked the short content format so I never had an interest downloading TikTok, but I knew that I would never, ever download it when I learned that this Chinese app is actually banned in China. They a have a separate clone of this app that’s exclusive to China that uses a different algorithm that promotes positive and educational content. The fact that billions of people use this shitty weaponized piece of Chinese spyware is depressing, especially when the Fediverse exists.
Well for starters - The United States government is kicking in doors around my area right now.
The CCP would have to travel many thousand miles to kick in my door.
That’s a false sense of security. The CCP doesn’t need to kick down your door to weaponize your data. It should be common sense to not trust an authoritarian regime.
OK what is China going to do to me with “weaponized data” that is the equivalent of being summarily executed by a US death squad?
You can’t worry about your taxes when your house is on fire man.
yes you can, if tomorrow you’ll be thrown in jail for your taxes
You’re missing the point.
China might use your data and hurt you in some far future, whereas the USA will use your data right now in a direct and violent way.
I can explain how the US government having access to the database of all of TikTok’s data might directly result in a visit from ICE. The path to damage caused by China may exist too, but is much more nebulous, and much more difficult for China to execute on.
Yes, if you are in a government position, or in the army, you probably shouldn’t use TikTok under China’s management. But Joe Schmoe from California has little to materially fear from them. But he does have reason to fear the USA government who might well come over and arrest him.
I think we agree on that. my point is, we don’t need to use neither usa tech or chinese tech for our social media platforms. we shouldn’t celebrate china being there “to save us”.
also, I think china could still hurt us, by manipulating elections and other things through manipulating public opinion and the values people hold. they have both the data and the channels to execute it.
You are right, we don’t need either but you are already preaching to the choir as you are here in the fediverse.
looking at the parent comments, or the other reply I got, I don’t think everyone agrees
if you’re still scared of china at this point the propaganda has unfortunately broken through and taken root in your brain stem, i’m sorry, there’s very little any of us can do to help you
Your horse were not on fire when TikTok got introduced en masse.
So yeah, look for excusses
It’s been on fire a long time buddy.
Based on recent evidence, maybe the CCP > US Government.
that does not make them good, but fortunately we don’t have to accept either, right?
Respectfully, the CCP has been less of a direct threat than the US government as of late and most dont trust the government so why would they trust the propaganda? This isnt to say the CCP isnt a problem but are they as much of a direct threat to American citizens then ICE and such?.. Atm, no.
That’s such a nonsensical take. Because you don’t trust the US government, you’re go to thought is to hand over your data to an opaque authoritarian regime like the CCP? What kind of a bullshit false dichotomy is that? Fuck that, my data is my data. It doesn’t belong to any government, corporation, or anybody who isn’t me or someone that I explicitly give consent to use my data. That’s the principled take.
No, I am just explaining to you why people have used it. Humans do human things… being upset at it wont change the why. Citizens are terrified of the current threat. Not one miles away. Humans are wired to react to immediate danger.
because visually it’s not coming from the government but “independent content creators”. and regardless of who says it, people will trust propaganda that says things they want to hear, then over time, start trusting those who say that
Okay well first that typo is staying, second I used to be minorly involved in politics (by which I mean fundraising for a homeless shelter feels and smells a lot like politics even if your goals are more altruistic) and I learned one valuable thing. The right thing morally and the right thing politically are rarely the same, and when it looks like they are you should investigate closer and reevaluate because you’re probably missing something important. That’s why government is almost always evil.