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TikTok doesn't just show inane dance videos in America. It shows them throughout the world. If China had some evil plan to poison the minds of youth they are no

TikTok doesn't just show inane dance videos in America. It shows them throughout the world. If China had some evil plan to poison the minds of youth they are not just targeting American kids. In reality, Hanlon's razor applies. It's better explained by apathy rather than an evil masterplan. China simply doesn't care about non-Chinese kids, they consider that the American government is responsible for American kids' welfare.

fragmede 4y ago
When an APT like China is concerned (or, eg the CIA), you'd be foolish to wantonly apply Hanlon's razor. I'm not saying it never applies, but some of the lengths nations go to in order to gain an advantage over their adversaries is astounding. Think NSO iPhone hack†. It's been documented that the CCP requires a party member be allowed to see into the company's private business dealings, or else face the same fate as Jack Ma‡. The Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is heavily scrutinized, eg (from down-thread) https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167. †https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-deep-dive-into-nso-zero-click.html https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-deep-dive-i... ‡https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/jack-ma-arrested-chinese-media-says-alibaba-founder-embracing-supervision-283606-2021-01-05 https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/jack-ma-arre...
- stackbutterflow 4y ago
  What's an APT?
  - bencollier49 4y ago
    An advanced persistent threat. A sophisticated targeted attack.
- zarzavat 4y ago
  I have not wantonly applied Hanlon's razor. You missed the first part where I said that TikTok is the same in every non-Chinese market. Friend or foe. There is no targeted attack towards America. They simply do not care about non-Chinese kids at all. Obviously China does care about the Chinese internet, it is heavily censored as we all know. But it is a giant leap from "China censors Chinese-TikTok" to "China is trying to make American kids stupid with dance videos". The corollary is that the people claiming this want China to heavily censor American TikTok so that it is more like Chinese TikTok!
Ekaros 4y ago
In someways China is ultra-capitalistic. They will sell what people want. And it seems that many people want to see dancing teenagers. Maybe China isn't doing anything. They just allow a company to deliver exactly what people want and people eagerly lap it all up.
- mrex 4y ago
  >In someways China is ultra-capitalistic. They will sell what people want. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pornography, anything deemed prurient by the government, anything deemed corrosive to social values, even trivial things like the depiction of zombies and ghosts in media, is strictly controlled by the communist government of China without respect for corporate profits.

fragmede 4y ago

When an APT like China is concerned (or, eg the CIA), you'd be foolish to wantonly apply Hanlon's razor. I'm not saying it never applies, but some of the lengths nations go to in order to gain an advantage over their adversaries is astounding. Think NSO iPhone hack†. It's been documented that the CCP requires a party member be allowed to see into the company's private business dealings, or else face the same fate as Jack Ma‡. The Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, is heavily scrutinized, eg (from down-thread) https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167. †https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-deep-dive-into-nso-zero-click.html https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-deep-dive-i... ‡https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/jack-ma-arrested-chinese-media-says-alibaba-founder-embracing-supervision-283606-2021-01-05 https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/jack-ma-arre...

stackbutterflow 4y ago
What's an APT?
- bencollier49 4y ago
  An advanced persistent threat. A sophisticated targeted attack.
zarzavat 4y ago
I have not wantonly applied Hanlon's razor. You missed the first part where I said that TikTok is the same in every non-Chinese market. Friend or foe. There is no targeted attack towards America. They simply do not care about non-Chinese kids at all. Obviously China does care about the Chinese internet, it is heavily censored as we all know. But it is a giant leap from "China censors Chinese-TikTok" to "China is trying to make American kids stupid with dance videos". The corollary is that the people claiming this want China to heavily censor American TikTok so that it is more like Chinese TikTok!

Ekaros 4y ago

In someways China is ultra-capitalistic. They will sell what people want. And it seems that many people want to see dancing teenagers. Maybe China isn't doing anything. They just allow a company to deliver exactly what people want and people eagerly lap it all up.

mrex 4y ago
>In someways China is ultra-capitalistic. They will sell what people want. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pornography, anything deemed prurient by the government, anything deemed corrosive to social values, even trivial things like the depiction of zombies and ghosts in media, is strictly controlled by the communist government of China without respect for corporate profits.