Remove (or open) black-box algorithmic recommendation engines and it's much less of an issue. The main problem with TikTok, from my perspective, is that they ca

Remove (or open) black-box algorithmic recommendation engines and it's much less of an issue. The main problem with TikTok, from my perspective, is that they can tweak a few parameters and do something like intentionally sway public opinion or attempt to radicalize a subset of people. This is a similar issue with domestic social media (Instagram knowingly harming teenage girls' mental health, YouTube recommending radicalism, Facebook facilitating Rohingya genocide and failing to act despite reports, etc) Our government has completely failed us when it comes to evaluating these issues. It's impossible to expect the average not-so-savvy person to do it for themselves or their children. Platforms of a certain size should absolutely be scrutinized because they are so broad reaching that they can alter the fabric of society (unknowingly, or more troubling, knowingly and without oversight). It's a little incredible to me, that even within the tech industry, we think so highly of ourselves that most people still willingly subject themselves to these unknowns for hours every day.