While the article is not good and tries to make a point, it is the wrong point.
TikTok is a weapon because it can be used to influence people's beliefs about current. This can be done in a very designed way, the way the CCP wants people to think about things, because the company behind TikTok cannot disobey the CCP and TikTok has very questionable / concerning data collection, ranking algorithms, and "go viral" buttons. Then can manually elevate content when you are most likely to be susceptible to it.
This biased post pollutes HN.
if the author truly buy-in the idea of new cold war, then holywood, youtube, and facebook are weapons too. the author even try to use blog platform and public forum like HN as weapon as well.
Unlike with TikTok there is no government in control of American social media the way the Chinese government controls TikTok. Your take is quite facile.
And an article attempting to highlight the issue is not comparable to the kinds of subtle influence the CCP may try to exert over American opinion through TikTok. I don't think there is evidence of that yet, but I also don't see a good argument for waiting around to find out.
A weapon that is not controlled by any government is just a not-government-controlled weapon.
But I disagree with the "weapon" classification entirely, because highlighting an issue is the best a subtle influence campaign can achieve, unless Jedi mind tricks are real. And if people don't agree that the issue being highlighted to them is worthy of their attention, even such attempts will fall on deaf ears.
I found the arguments here compelling, though the solution offered at the end was weak, as if there had to be some answer. It left me feeling there is none.
Readit News
TikTok is a weapon because it can be used to influence people's beliefs about current. This can be done in a very designed way, the way the CCP wants people to think about things, because the company behind TikTok cannot disobey the CCP and TikTok has very questionable / concerning data collection, ranking algorithms, and "go viral" buttons. Then can manually elevate content when you are most likely to be susceptible to it.
At least that is the fear.
And an article attempting to highlight the issue is not comparable to the kinds of subtle influence the CCP may try to exert over American opinion through TikTok. I don't think there is evidence of that yet, but I also don't see a good argument for waiting around to find out.
But I disagree with the "weapon" classification entirely, because highlighting an issue is the best a subtle influence campaign can achieve, unless Jedi mind tricks are real. And if people don't agree that the issue being highlighted to them is worthy of their attention, even such attempts will fall on deaf ears.