The main reason TikTok is being targeted is because it doesn't silence pro-Palestinian perspectives on the conflict. This is a direct threat to the leadership of the people in charge because it fractures their narrative they work tirelessly to promote (the perpetual victim).
I'm sure that plays part in the motivation of some people, but to levy this accusation against Jonathan Haidt, who has extensively written about his views on social media in general, is very much unserious and a huge distraction best.
They may be part of why the American rhetoric is against Tiktok specifically rather than other platforms, but this specific author has a far wider remit against social media as a whole.
Because they stroked his ego. Just like other tech leaders are attempting.
> "In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive," the company said in a statement. "It's a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."
Trump isn't nearly as beholden to APAIC as congress is. You must realize that congress passed the ban and Trump is granting extensions right? Those aren't the same person. Different people have different motivations.
> The main reason TikTok is being targeted is because it doesn't silence pro-Palestinian perspectives on the conflict.
First of all, TikTok was being in the crosshairs ever before Hamas decided to slaughter and take hostage civilians on Oct 7th.
Second, why is it always the pro-Palestine crowd that acts like their issue is the most important thing in the world, completely de-railing any debate? Seriously, no other geopolitical conflict has so many people injecting it into any debate they can find.
The entire identity of being pro-Palestinian is one of resistance to power, so it's natural they would view all issues through that lens. The only form of activism for that movement is posting about it online, so it makes sense that it would seem to infest everything.
The same people who continue to make excuses for and rationalize the ongoing genocide are in charge in the USA in the political and business sphere. All dissent will be crushed until morale improves.
Because if Hamas isn’t victimizing themselves as hard as possible, everyone will remember that they abducted, raped, and maimed 1500 people at a concert. And then refused to apologize. And took hostages. And still have the hostages.
I guess the closest analog is the rape of Nanking? I don’t think Japan ever truly apologized or even properly acknowledged it and I’d definitely still be salty if I was a Chinaman today. That said, the Japanese got nuked twice and lost their dignity in a number of other ways.
Edit: I forgot about the 6+ million Chinese the Japanese wiped out in WW2! WW2 China really is what Palestine thinks it is today.
