Is there any evidence that differences in the kinds of videos that go viral on TikTok vs Douyin are the result of malicious Chinese engineering as opposed to being a reflection of the inherent interests of the Chinese and American populations? In any case setting limits on the usage of Tiktok seems like a paternalistic and authoritarian …
Is there any evidence that differences in the kinds of videos that go viral on TikTok vs Douyin are the result of malicious Chinese engineering as opposed to being a reflection of the inherent interests of the Chinese and American populations? In any case setting limits on the usage of Tiktok seems like a paternalistic and authoritarian move that most Americans would be against so I’m a little surprised that you’re citing that as a virtue of the Chinese version of the app.
You're right. As a Chinese American myself, raised by Chinese immigrants in America, I've seen this firsthand. East Asian Americans have more of a culture of educational success than mainstream American culture. I was studying while other kids were playing sports and going to parties. It's just different. I discuss on my own blog a lot about Asian academic achievement.
My understanding is that China restricts their children to 40 minutes a day. Is that correct? If so, they don't seem to have the same concern about American children. In fact, the exact opposite.
The Chinese and international apps are tailored to two different domestic markets. If American law required TikTok to limit usage for people in this country, I'm sure Bytedance would comply with local law.
But clearly that would be the sort of paternalistic move that would never gain political traction here, so I'm not sure why you're blaming that on the Chinese.
Hate to break it to you and other commenters here but I’m not a member of the CCP and don’t have any personal connection to Xi Jinping. I grew up in Texas. It’s also not clear that the CCP has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the TikTok or Douyin algorithm.
What’s been frustrating is that much of the commentary in this thread has been moralized panic coupled with vague intimations of the supposed Chinese menace with minimal substantive support of most of the claims. Basically the argument just boils down to China authoritarian, China bad.
I'm not an expert on the Confucius Institutes but from what I've read they're mostly used for fairly banal purposes, such as hosting Chinese language classes and that sort of thing. There are of course instances of bad political actors using them to promote Chinese interests. Personally I'm okay with shutting them down if that's what we decide is best.
I don't think that's an accurate reflection of malign Chinese influence in academia though. Based on the sources I've read and cited, my impression is that the recently ended China Initiative was mostly an overreach that harassed academics of Chinese descent for administrative violations such as failing to disclose ties to China rather than rooting out actual espionage.
I dunno what You're talking about with this "Chinese Initiative." If Chinese-Americans were harassed, that would be bad.
The Confucius Institutes, OTOH, are not in any way, shape, or form involved in "banal purposes." That's why they were thrown out, in almost *all* the colleges/universities that had them. You recall?
Of COURSE, the CCP just started more of them up under a different name. Nothing nefarious going on there, right? /s
You might be interested in Josh Rogin's book Chaos Under Heaven. Bari interviewed Josh in 2021 and their conversation focused on the supposed threat that China posed to America and the American way of life.
Rogin mentions in the book visiting the Confucius Institute at his alma mater George Washington University and registering for a Chinese Language 101 class . He found that there was nothing nefarious going on there and it was basically just a group of people learning Chinese. Of course there were allegations of politically untoward conduct at Confucius Institutes on other campuses and the book mentions that the University of West Florida closed theirs.
Chaos Under Heaven also mentions that around 30 out of the over 100 Confucius Institutes on American campuses had been closed. That number might be higher now given that the book was published last year, but it doesn't sound like all or even most of them have been thrown out of American universities as you allege.
I dunno how many C.I. have been closed. My understanding is most-a them, on account-a the fact that DOD funds are being withheld from colleges that host them.
I think it's disingenuous to claim that these are anything other than arms of the CCP.
I'll add "Chaos Under Heaven" to list. TY for recommendation.
Is there any evidence that differences in the kinds of videos that go viral on TikTok vs Douyin are the result of malicious Chinese engineering as opposed to being a reflection of the inherent interests of the Chinese and American populations? In any case setting limits on the usage of Tiktok seems like a paternalistic and authoritarian move that most Americans would be against so I’m a little surprised that you’re citing that as a virtue of the Chinese version of the app.
You're right. As a Chinese American myself, raised by Chinese immigrants in America, I've seen this firsthand. East Asian Americans have more of a culture of educational success than mainstream American culture. I was studying while other kids were playing sports and going to parties. It's just different. I discuss on my own blog a lot about Asian academic achievement.
My understanding is that China restricts their children to 40 minutes a day. Is that correct? If so, they don't seem to have the same concern about American children. In fact, the exact opposite.
You think that's coincidence?
The Chinese and international apps are tailored to two different domestic markets. If American law required TikTok to limit usage for people in this country, I'm sure Bytedance would comply with local law.
But clearly that would be the sort of paternalistic move that would never gain political traction here, so I'm not sure why you're blaming that on the Chinese.
Just pointing out that what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander.
I’m Sure you can ask Xi that.
Hate to break it to you and other commenters here but I’m not a member of the CCP and don’t have any personal connection to Xi Jinping. I grew up in Texas. It’s also not clear that the CCP has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the TikTok or Douyin algorithm.
What’s been frustrating is that much of the commentary in this thread has been moralized panic coupled with vague intimations of the supposed Chinese menace with minimal substantive support of most of the claims. Basically the argument just boils down to China authoritarian, China bad.
You ignored my mention of Confucius Institutes. Why was that?
I'm not an expert on the Confucius Institutes but from what I've read they're mostly used for fairly banal purposes, such as hosting Chinese language classes and that sort of thing. There are of course instances of bad political actors using them to promote Chinese interests. Personally I'm okay with shutting them down if that's what we decide is best.
I don't think that's an accurate reflection of malign Chinese influence in academia though. Based on the sources I've read and cited, my impression is that the recently ended China Initiative was mostly an overreach that harassed academics of Chinese descent for administrative violations such as failing to disclose ties to China rather than rooting out actual espionage.
I dunno what You're talking about with this "Chinese Initiative." If Chinese-Americans were harassed, that would be bad.
The Confucius Institutes, OTOH, are not in any way, shape, or form involved in "banal purposes." That's why they were thrown out, in almost *all* the colleges/universities that had them. You recall?
Of COURSE, the CCP just started more of them up under a different name. Nothing nefarious going on there, right? /s
You might be interested in Josh Rogin's book Chaos Under Heaven. Bari interviewed Josh in 2021 and their conversation focused on the supposed threat that China posed to America and the American way of life.
Rogin mentions in the book visiting the Confucius Institute at his alma mater George Washington University and registering for a Chinese Language 101 class . He found that there was nothing nefarious going on there and it was basically just a group of people learning Chinese. Of course there were allegations of politically untoward conduct at Confucius Institutes on other campuses and the book mentions that the University of West Florida closed theirs.
Chaos Under Heaven also mentions that around 30 out of the over 100 Confucius Institutes on American campuses had been closed. That number might be higher now given that the book was published last year, but it doesn't sound like all or even most of them have been thrown out of American universities as you allege.
Cancel that last comment about adding book to list.
I *already* bought it. Sheesh on me!
I dunno how many C.I. have been closed. My understanding is most-a them, on account-a the fact that DOD funds are being withheld from colleges that host them.
I think it's disingenuous to claim that these are anything other than arms of the CCP.
I'll add "Chaos Under Heaven" to list. TY for recommendation.