I was so severely disappointed by this debate I had to login to leave a comment. The fundamental lack of understanding of both technology and media from both of these guests. The issue at play is part of a larger market evolution of media becoming technology, as exemplified by this comment being on substack (arguably a tech company) not …
I was so severely disappointed by this debate I had to login to leave a comment. The fundamental lack of understanding of both technology and media from both of these guests. The issue at play is part of a larger market evolution of media becoming technology, as exemplified by this comment being on substack (arguably a tech company) not the NYT. While one can watch RT and easily see a statement of bias and absurdity, and even if they don't, there is the ability in a one to many broadcast to address the statements made. These blackbox algorithms are the product, not the dissemination of decentralized content. This makes it nearly impossible to audit or verify the information contrary to the provided example of RT and these algorithms can be manipulated and swayed in a virtually undetectable manner while stripping individual autonomy and individual judgement. While there is totally a valid argument to be made that this is a concern for all tech companies, the difference comes down to judicial authority and accountability. None of this was discussed or addressed, nor was the topic of generative content actively being prototyped by TikTok which begins to enable them to create bespoke content for each user. In the west manipulative or destructive overreach has historically leaked out and allowed regulatory or legal action. Also unaddressed are the national security concerns of essentially a foreign adversary being in possession of a psych profile of millions of Americans, this isn't the same of knowing what cat videos you watch. Even if an individual say a military official isn't using the application that doesn't mean they are immune for the manipulative behavior that could be used against their family. Say a military leader taking leave during a time of unrest as their child was continuously bombarded with body shaming, drugs, and destructive content ...
I found the discussion interesting because it revealed the truths that couldn't be said. Tik Tok is indefensible but arguments around freedom of speech can't be confronted directly. It's alarming that there are young people glued to this addictive media chanel 8 hours a day. It's alarming when young people start praising Osama Bin Laden. And yes, why are there fifty pro-Palestinian videos for every pro-Israel one? Does the Chinese government have their thumb on the scale because they'd like to disrupt the axis of power in the world? None of these things can be said outloud in this debate.
I agree. The problem with TikTok is less about ownership of the application, but the black box issue. While I am not a huge fan of social psychology I think it is important to bring up in the context of this debate. The challenges with TikTok is linked to an algorithm that is being trained to optimize the social contagion of underground ideas.
We see this in mental illness social contagion spread directly though TikTok. We see this in the growth of very niche and narrow political ideas that have cropped up from TikTok. It is not about user data but rather the training of an information stream that can redirect and change interest, attention, and individual action. That is the ultimate threat posed by this app. The ability to retrain focus and real-world engagement.
It is so powerful an algorithm that it is deployed differently in China. In the youth population the app promotes wildly different content that is state approved to create its own alternative social contagion. It works in almost an opposite way by limiting niche and unpopular topics. Any American who does not understand that they are using our user base as test subjects for this research is not paying attention to what is happening in our teen and young adult population in comparison to theirs.
This is not a question of enterprise control it is a question of treating broad swaths of the US population with a psychological experiment without FDA oversight or US safeguards.
I was so severely disappointed by this debate I had to login to leave a comment. The fundamental lack of understanding of both technology and media from both of these guests. The issue at play is part of a larger market evolution of media becoming technology, as exemplified by this comment being on substack (arguably a tech company) not the NYT. While one can watch RT and easily see a statement of bias and absurdity, and even if they don't, there is the ability in a one to many broadcast to address the statements made. These blackbox algorithms are the product, not the dissemination of decentralized content. This makes it nearly impossible to audit or verify the information contrary to the provided example of RT and these algorithms can be manipulated and swayed in a virtually undetectable manner while stripping individual autonomy and individual judgement. While there is totally a valid argument to be made that this is a concern for all tech companies, the difference comes down to judicial authority and accountability. None of this was discussed or addressed, nor was the topic of generative content actively being prototyped by TikTok which begins to enable them to create bespoke content for each user. In the west manipulative or destructive overreach has historically leaked out and allowed regulatory or legal action. Also unaddressed are the national security concerns of essentially a foreign adversary being in possession of a psych profile of millions of Americans, this isn't the same of knowing what cat videos you watch. Even if an individual say a military official isn't using the application that doesn't mean they are immune for the manipulative behavior that could be used against their family. Say a military leader taking leave during a time of unrest as their child was continuously bombarded with body shaming, drugs, and destructive content ...
I found the discussion interesting because it revealed the truths that couldn't be said. Tik Tok is indefensible but arguments around freedom of speech can't be confronted directly. It's alarming that there are young people glued to this addictive media chanel 8 hours a day. It's alarming when young people start praising Osama Bin Laden. And yes, why are there fifty pro-Palestinian videos for every pro-Israel one? Does the Chinese government have their thumb on the scale because they'd like to disrupt the axis of power in the world? None of these things can be said outloud in this debate.
I agree. The problem with TikTok is less about ownership of the application, but the black box issue. While I am not a huge fan of social psychology I think it is important to bring up in the context of this debate. The challenges with TikTok is linked to an algorithm that is being trained to optimize the social contagion of underground ideas.
We see this in mental illness social contagion spread directly though TikTok. We see this in the growth of very niche and narrow political ideas that have cropped up from TikTok. It is not about user data but rather the training of an information stream that can redirect and change interest, attention, and individual action. That is the ultimate threat posed by this app. The ability to retrain focus and real-world engagement.
It is so powerful an algorithm that it is deployed differently in China. In the youth population the app promotes wildly different content that is state approved to create its own alternative social contagion. It works in almost an opposite way by limiting niche and unpopular topics. Any American who does not understand that they are using our user base as test subjects for this research is not paying attention to what is happening in our teen and young adult population in comparison to theirs.
This is not a question of enterprise control it is a question of treating broad swaths of the US population with a psychological experiment without FDA oversight or US safeguards.