TikTok Deal Is the Shittiest Possible Outcome, Making Everything Worse

Motives Behind the TikTok Law and Deal

• Some argue the original law (PAFACA) genuinely targeted privacy, propaganda, and national security; others see that as cover for forcing a cheap sale to favored US investors.
• Many comments frame the outcome as crony capitalism: a bipartisan maneuver to move a valuable asset from a Chinese firm to US‑aligned billionaires.
• A minority thinks the core motive is to ensure Americans see the “right” propaganda rather than less propaganda overall.

National Security vs Domestic Manipulation

• One camp stresses that a PRC‑controlled algorithm is inherently dangerous: China could shape US opinion in crises (e.g., Taiwan) by boosting or suppressing narratives.
• Critics respond that US‑controlled platforms (X, Meta, YouTube) already allow or amplify foreign and domestic manipulation; changing owners doesn’t solve “unknowable algorithm” risks.
• Several note that the algorithm and a substantial ownership stake remain with ByteDance, so the security problem is only cosmetically addressed.

Data Access vs Algorithmic Control

• Some say “data access” was never the main issue; the real weapon is controlling the feed that shapes what millions see.
• Others emphasize that US firms at least operate under some judicial and transparency constraints, unlike Chinese companies—though skeptics argue US courts and surveillance practices are not meaningfully protective in practice.

Legality and Executive Overreach

• Multiple comments argue the sale is effectively illegal: the law mandated a ban by certain dates; TikTok stayed online via executive orders instructing DOJ not to enforce it.
• This is seen as a sign of systemic decay: laws exist but are waived for political deals, undermining rule of law and equal protection.

Addiction, Harm, and Platform Competition

• Heated debate over calling TikTok “digital heroin”: some insist it’s dangerously addictive for youth; others say that analogy trivializes real drug addiction and is misleading.
• Comparisons with YouTube/Shorts and Instagram Reels: consensus that TikTok dominates younger demographics, but its “moat” may be thin as creators cross‑post and follow monetization.
• Broader view: all major social platforms are highly addictive “slot machines” or “cigarettes,” optimized for engagement rather than user well‑being.

Geopolitics, Generations, and Cynicism

• Some assert any Chinese geopolitical gains are bad for Western quality of life; others, especially non‑Americans and younger commenters, are skeptical of US moral high ground.
• There’s visible generational anger that US elites sold out younger cohorts (housing, education, jobs), reducing receptivity to national‑security arguments and making the whole episode look like elite power‑consolidation, not public protection.

Israel/Information Control Angle

• A subset links the timing and ownership outcome to suppressing criticism of Israel and Gaza coverage, citing donors and rhetoric from pro‑Israel organizations; others note TikTok content remains largely critical of Israel and see these claims as speculative within the thread.