Summary
Despite previously attempting to ban TikTok over national security concerns, Donald Trump now champions the platform, which went offline in the U.S. Sunday under a controversial ban upheld by the Supreme Court.
TikTok is good for Trump because it is a maelstrom of disinformation so massive that even Elon Musk-controlled Twitter cannot compete.
The app’s algorithm spreads disinformation and emotionally manipulative content, which boosts Trump’s messaging.
Critics warn that TikTok fosters disconnection, exploiting empathy to exhaust users and distract them from meaningful real-world action.
Or or or, hear me out: Trump knows that 170 million Americans use tiktok and banning it is unpopular. It also helps that his billionaire buddy owns 15% of bytedance and tiktok’s CEO has been sucking up to Trump.
You don’t need conspiracies to explain a politician doing something that helps their public perception.
Watching all of this from a place of indifference, it’s absolutely fascinating watching liberals and even conservatives process this whole saga in real-time
It’s one of those increasingly common moments where the lack of ideological coherence creates chaos until a common perspective gets worked out.