#truth about tiktok ban

[nando161mando]

Speaking the truth about the TikTok ban

[hauntingmiser]

It just feels weird that lemon8, red note, and capcut also TikTok got banned in the US but not temu

Like...you do realize that app is a scam and also is actually dangerous to people right?

Right?

[elsaclack]

Yeah okay so like I said in the tags of the last post I’m rising from my tumblr grave to say that the ban on TikTok is symptomatic of a MUCH larger and more terrifying problem. Because yes, on its surface it’s silly dances and asmr and cooking videos and whatever, but in truth and at its core, TikTok single-handedly revolutionized the way 170 million Americans communicated with each other AND the rest of the world. Non-Americans love to point out how America-centric Americans are, but fail to realize that we are purposefully raised in an isolated, insulated environment where we are told from basically day 1 that America Is The Best and not to even bother taking a look around because it’s all downhill from outside of here. TikTok has, for MANY Americans, single-handedly destroyed that notion and allowed them (us!!) to broaden our world-view and realize that actually, things are better in other countries, and it did so in a kind, empathetic, and compassionate way.

And yeah most people wake up to the truth of that on their own as they get older, but holy shit!! The VAST majority of the Americans on TikTok are millennials and gen z (and even some older gen alpha)!! People who are becoming disillusioned with “The American Dream” (said with the HEAVIEST sarcasm) while they’re still school-aged or are just entering young-adulthood!! People who are entering - or TRYING to enter - the American workforce who suddenly have an unfiltered window into non-American lives and are wondering why tf we’re struggling and penny-pinching and toeing the line of poverty while our rich elected officials sit around and fight and argue over everything that actually matters to the citizens they supposedly represent and get richer all the while. THAT is why they’re banning the app, and that fact alone should terrify every single American citizen.

Not to mention the precedent it sets for other social media platforms!! You think some nebulous, unproven, and unfounded “threat to national security” will stop with TikTok?? They’ve already censored Adult Material on tumblr, who’s gonna stop them from coming back and doing it again or getting rid of it altogether for the exact same reason? It’s a blatant act of censorship and a direct attack on the American first amendment right to free speech.

NOTHING radicalized me the way tiktok did. I watched people in my life who were STAUNCH Trump supporters in 2016 AND 2020 wake up to the truth and vote blue for the first time in their lives BECAUSE OF TIKTOK, and did so with al the nuanced understanding that even Democrats are severely failing this country, but are at least better than the alternative. That level of awareness and presence in the average US citizen scares American politicians.

The fact that the vast majority of them - including the ones loudly opposing the ban!! - bought stock in Meta BEFORE the ban was legalized/upheld by the Supreme Court?? That Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk were legally allowed to lobby congress to ban TikTok when BOTH stood to DIRECTLY financially gain from their biggest competitor being banned in the US and are guilty of unethically gathering data and selling it to MULTIPLE third parties?? The fact that Trump is now teasing that he may or may not intervene to save TikTok when he was the one who talked about banning it in the first place AND ALSO OWNS HIS OWN COMPETING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM??

It’s the burning of Alexandria. It’s the loss of a significant chunk of culture. It’s the sharp and sudden loss of contact with the rest of the world for more than half of all American citizens. It’s the loss of $240 BILLION dollars in the GDP when the country is already TRILLIONS of dollars in debt. And on an individualistic level, it’s the loss of millions of small businesses and primary income streams for so many individuals and families who found their primary audience on TikTok. Is the app perfect? HELL no. Are there significant changes needed to make it a safe environment for all users? ABSOLUTELY. But that can also be said of ANY social media platform. TikTok openly fostered connection and communication and creativity and compassion that is completely unique to that platform! It made so many people - myself included!! - feel less alone. I get the feeling I know what the general consensus is about TikTok on this site, but the ban on this app should scare the shit out of everyone.

[eulaties]

general thoughts about the 2025 小红书 boom

i feel like we're at a really interesting point in time right now, particularly in regards to the shift in american consciousness + changing world order, so i thought it would be fitting to document my thoughts about the xhs situation as a chinese american. however, please note this post is NOT speaking on behalf of any community, and i am only speaking to my own personal opinions.

the good

american propaganda is getting dismantled in real time. there's so much cross-cultural communication right now in relation to america's political issues, everyday life, and what china is really like

im already seeing people starting to learn the language, becoming interested in visiting china, etc. and i truly haven't seen this kind of mass interest in chinese culture in a long time

to be precise, the last time there was really "chinese soft power" in america was during the mid-to-late 2000s. notably this time period included the 2008 beijing olympics which was monumental for china on the global stage, as it showcased their prosperity, openness ("北京欢迎你"), and equal footing in the modern world. ive seen people compare the xhs phenomenon to this event and while both are drastically different, i do think this is an apt comparison (though obviously this xhs thing is on a muchhh smaller scale...)

so many new friendships and connections are being made!

the bad

to add on to what op said, theres definitely a difference between just generally understanding that as diaspora, most people around you will hold sinophobic views about china and chinese people VERSUS actually having empirical evidence that most normal people didn't see chinese people as human before. its jarring to say the least. like everyone is praising chinese people on xhs now, but just last week everyone was fearmongering about us?? really reminds you that in the eyes of the public, favor for any asian culture (and by extension, its people) is fleeting and will often change easily with the season

and yes, its definitely weird to see people talk about chinese people as if they've never seen a chinese person in america before. like obviously there's a HUGE difference between mainlanders and diaspora, but there's also international students that come to america to study so... ??

the memes are funny, and i like how the people on xhs are playing along with them, but something about the "chinese spy" memes rubs me the wrong way. tbh, most mainlanders actually have a positive view of westerners and america, and if they don't study abroad themselves or know anyone that went abroad, they will never truly understand what it's like to be discriminated against simply for being chinese (there's a difference between knowing and understanding ofc; not saying that they're ignorant & don't know anything lol). this is just the honest truth, just like how i'll never understand what it's like to live and grow up in mainland china since im diaspora. anyways, i kind of question if mainlanders are actually aware of the loaded context behind those words. while americans are using the "chinese spy" memes as jokes now in reference to why tiktok is getting banned, it doesn't change the fact that many other americans truly do believe that there is mass chinese surveilliance/planted chinese spies in america (i.e., see modern-day mccarthyism, like how chinese researchers are often stripped of their titles/reputations, interrogated, and then silently deported). like language and framing does matter, and it has actually affected chinese people in america, but now you guys are treating it like a joke?

anyways, even with all of the bad there's still overwhelming good that has come out of this, and i do feel like its better to be more positive than negative about these things in the long run! who knows where tomorrow will take us but at the very least i hope everyone actively continues pissing off the american government 💖 amen

[ibswarriors2nd]

Can anyone here explain to me how accurate the claims that the Restrict Act would put you in jail for 20 years for using a VPN on the wrong website are? Like I do think the bill isn’t well drafted but almost all the big tweets against it are from chronically online socdems or huge alt right online media personalities whom for obvious reasons, I do not trust lol.

[bitchface24-7]

bestie do you happen to know of you could find it in your heart to write for my FAV senior citizen. Silco. (I MISS HIM)

The tiktok ban has made me deprived. Please let me know at your earliest convenience. I will now go back to fighting my demons and missing my shayla. (I hope you are having a good day!)

YOUR DAD’S KINDA HOT… - SILCO X READER

synopsis: you've been friends with Jinx for years now, you're a few years older than her but you two are as thick as thieves. So don't ask how this conversation came up… you have no idea.

warnings: age gap (silco’s like late 30s to early 40s, reader is early 20s), teasing, banter (jinx makes fun of you), overheard conversations, fear of discipline, flirting, suggestiveness

genre: m/f or m/m

p.s. SILCOOOOO 😩😍 I've been down bad since S1 but people would jump down your throat if you said anything about him. The art book definitely spoiled us

You have no idea how your conversation took this turn. Here you are, sitting with Jinx as she works on her bombs in her little lair, having a good time when all of a sudden she asks, “Do you think Silco is hot?”

A sputter is heard as you cough and thump your chest, trying to unchoke yourself from your drink going down the wrong pipe.

“What?!” your voice is whiny in incredulous. No seriously… what?! Where did that come from?!

Jinx casually shrugs, “I won’t be mad y’know. You're not very subtle, just tell the truth toots.”

Your lips thin in contemplation. I mean… you’re not blind? You have eyes? Should you honestly tell his daughter that you think he's attractive?

Jinx appreciates honesty, and loyalty; the same as her dad. She's your best friend, you've never lied to her. And you're not gonna start now.

Even if it’s an uncomfortable topic.

You sigh, face scrunching up is displeasure, “Yes Jinx. I think your dad is hot… I’m not blind, duh.”

She cackles at you, “Seriously?! You could have any guy ya want, and you go for him, my old man?! Finn’ll be heartbroken.”

“He can stay heartbroken! I've got much a finer taste than… that. Silco’s strong, level-headed, and handsome. He values honesty and loyalty. Finn’s… Finn.”

Jinx’s reply is cut off by a deeper voice, “That you do my dear, that you do. Jinx, continue working on your bombs. The ones I see so far are perfect. You, come with me.”

It’ Silco.

Fuck, it’s Silco!

You gulp as Jinx just smiles at the praise, you slowly raise from your seat and follow the kingpin. A frantic look is shot Jinx’s way as you mouth “Help me!”

Jinx giggles at you and winks. You'll be getting no help from her. She's taken too much time planning this moment, she's not letting all her hard work go to waste!

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The walk back to Silco’s office is tense, you're tempted to jump out a window and hopefully die in the fall to escape this cloying feeling.

It’s too late, you're doomed.

Is your only thought as Silco opens the doors to his office, ushers you in, and locks the doors behind him. You're trapped with a lion, and you’re nothing but a beetle.

He's gonna kill you.

“Sit.” Is all he says as he walks to his drink cart and pours you both two fingers of bourbon. You sit down immediately and fidget lightly. Ok… so maybe he's not going to kill you.

Yet.

He plops a cup into your hand and gracefully walks around his desk and sits down. He's not wearing his coat you realize. His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his forearms and you get to see how tiny his waist is.

God he so hot.

In your appreciation of Silco, you don't see him take a swig of his drink and look you over as well. Hmm, looks like you were telling the truth.

Time to make things interesting.

“So, you find me attractive?”

You gulp looking down to your lap as you quickly bring your glass up to your lips and take a large swig, “Yes sir.”

“Hmm. How curious, you find a man old enough to be your father attractive. What's that say about you?”

“It says I prefer things that have aged finely. Like how you feel about this burboun.”

Silco chuckles, you’re quick. Smart as a whip. Loyal. Honest. Attractive.

He's noticed you for a while now, always on his radar due to Jinx. He appreciate’s your care for his daughter, how you’re with her constantly and protect her. He knew you as a teen, he knew you'd grow up into a attractive adult.

He knew he’d be right.

He knew that you have denied all advances made on you. No partner, no romantic or sexual relationships. The main reason why he knows that is you essentially live with him and Jinx.

He knows how you've looked at him over the years, ignoring their heat. But now… you're an adult. You've finally admitted your attraction.

He's going to take what’s rightfully his.

He's going to see what you've been hiding under your clothes, he's going to take you apart piece by piece. He's going to have you on his desk, his bed, in front of the large window in his office. He's going to feel your lips, how soft your skin is. How nice your hair would feel in his grip.

(You’re going to deeply enjoy it.)

(The two of you hope Jinx won’t be hiding in the office in the rafters as her dad devours you.)

(She wasn’t, thankfully. But she did have a knowing look on her face for like a week.)

(She still pats herself on the back to this day.)

He's a bad man but fuck is he hot! Hope y’all enjoyed this ❤️❤️ also I think the US has tiktok again? I saw the sad goodbyes last night, no Americans this morning on the app, then I took a nap and creators from the US were posting again?? I was so lost LMAO

[ivys-garden]

Today on "what has he done"?

1. Ended birthright citizenship. This is unconstitutional.

2. Pardoned almost 1600 capital rioters who tried to overthrow the government

3. Plans to withdraw from WHO due to how much America pays them... nations choose how much they send to WHO and America could choose to send less. He knows this. He intentionally hid the truth. He wants to make sure no other country can influence his actions in America at the cost of thousands who will now die from disease as no other country can make up the difference to fund WHO as the largest economy pulls out.

4. Declared a national emergency at the border with Mexico. Apparently asylum seekers and refugees could completely overthrow the country. Despite the fact that they benefit the economy and are less likely to commit crimes

5. Withdraws from the Paris agreement. Again, America set their own goals in the agreement. He could have changed them but instead he'd like to fuck everyone else over. Climate change is happening, that is an observable fact. Don't Let anyone tell you otherwise.

6. Revoked the electric car mandate and opens the door for more oil drilling to "stop the energy crisis". He ignores that oil drills can't be established safely in this short a time.

7. Stops all American assistance programs for 90 days so he can "review them". Probably just looking at what countries would suck up to him and cutting everyone else off.

8. Removing sections on Israeli settlers in the west bank who are actively kicking Arabs of their land and attacking them.

9. Removing Bidens descion to remove Cuba from the lost of countries who fund terrorism. Cuba does not fund terrorism. This would be like adding Ireland to this list because the IRA used to exist.

10. Wants more people using the death penalty. The death penalty is more expensive than life in prison. Oh and is inhumane.

11. Stops his ban on tiktok temporarily. Former tiktok employees have admitted the ban was a political stunt and now tiktok is restricting access of terms like "fascism" in America.

12. Creates the Department of Government Efficency. Presidents cannot make departments through excetative orders.

13. Ended programs regarding to gender. Calls basic rights for trans people "gender ideology ". declears there "are only too genders" so hermaphrodites and native American two spirits don't exist I guess. There have been third genders for all of human history across the world. Same with trans people. Remember Americas, if the government asks you if you know a trans person, no you don't!

14. Declares cartels terrorists. They literally aren't by definition and the last time America tried to stop terrorism in another country you got Afghanistan.

15. Said a bunch of other bullshit about cist of living of that. Plans to impose Tariffs, taxes AMERICANS are forced to pay on foreign goods. You know, most of the goods in the country. He just wants to stop international trade he doesn't care about the cost of living. If he did he wouldn't be buddies with billionaires

[mariacallous]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok beginning Sunday unless it’s sold by its China-based parent company, holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.

A sale does not appear imminent and, although experts have said the app will not disappear from existing users’ phones once the law takes effect on Jan. 19, new users won’t be able to download it and updates won’t be available. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings.

The decision came against the backdrop of unusual political agitation by President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed that he could negotiate a solution and the administration of President Joe Biden, which has signaled it won’t enforce the law beginning Sunday, his final full day in office.

Trump, mindful of TikTok’s popularity, and his own 14.7 million followers on the app, finds himself on the opposite side of the argument from prominent Senate Republicans who fault TikTok’s Chinese owner for not finding a buyer before now. Trump said in a Truth Social post shortly before the decision was issued that TikTok was among the topics in his conversation Friday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

It’s unclear what options are open to Trump once he is sworn in as president on Monday. The law allowed for a 90-day pause in the restrictions on the app if there had been progress toward a sale before it took effect. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law at the Supreme Court for the Democratic Biden administration, told the justices last week that it’s uncertain whether the prospect of a sale once the law is in effect could trigger a 90-day respite for TikTok.

“Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the court said in an unsigned opinion, adding that the law “does not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch filed short separate opinions noting some reservations about the court’s decision but going along with the outcome.

“Without doubt, the remedy Congress and the President chose here is dramatic,” Gorsuch wrote. Still, he said he was persuaded by the argument that China could get access to “vast troves of personal information about tens of millions of Americans.”

Some digital rights groups slammed the court’s ruling shortly after it was released.

“Today’s unprecedented decision upholding the TikTok ban harms the free expression of hundreds of millions of TikTok users in this country and around the world,” said Kate Ruane, a director at the Washington-based Center for Democracy & Technology, which has supported TikTok’s challenge to the federal law.

Content creators who opposed the law also worried about the effect on their business if TikTok shuts down. “I’m very, very concerned about what’s going to happen over the next couple weeks,” said Desiree Hill, owner of Crown’s Corner mechanic shop in Conyers, Georgia. “And very scared about the decrease that I’m going to have in reaching customers and worried I’m going to potentially lose my business in the next six months.”

At arguments, the justices were told by a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese technology company that is its parent, how difficult it would be to consummate a deal, especially since Chinese law restricts the sale of the proprietary algorithm that has made the social media platform wildly successful.

The app allows users to watch hundreds of videos in about half an hour because some are only a few seconds long, according to a lawsuit filed last year by Kentucky complaining that TikTok is designed to be addictive and harms kids’ mental health. Similar suits were filed by more than a dozen states. TikTok has called the claims inaccurate.

The dispute over TikTok’s ties to China has come to embody the geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing.

“ByteDance and its Chinese Communist masters had nine months to sell TikTok before the Sunday deadline,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on X. “The very fact that Communist China refuses to permit its sale reveals exactly what TikTok is: a communist spy app. The Supreme Court correctly rejected TikTok’s lies and propaganda masquerading as legal arguments.”

The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.

TikTok points out the U.S. has not presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on its U.S. platform or gather American user data through TikTok.

Bipartisan majorities in Congress passed legislation and Biden signed it into law in April. The law was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over TikTok, which the government sees as a national security threat.

TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok’s quick appeal to the Supreme Court.

Without a sale to an approved buyer, the law bars app stores operated by Apple, Google and others from offering TikTok beginning on Sunday. Internet hosting services also will be prohibited from hosting TikTok.

ByteDance has said it won’t sell. But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative has said it and its unnamed partners have presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikTok’s U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes “Shark Tank” host Kevin O’Leary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer.

McCourt, in a statement following the ruling, said his group was “ready to work with the company and President Trump to complete a deal.”

Prelogar told the justices last week that having the law take effect “might be just the jolt” ByteDance needs to reconsider its position.

[reality-detective]

Tulsi Gabbard Unveils the Disturbing Truth About the TikTok Ban

“It’s not really about TikTok at all. It’s about government being able to choose what platforms are acceptable and what are not.”

The potential implications for citizens are even more alarming. Imagine that you want to use a VPN to illegally download a forbidden app. 🤔

[sugaryaurora]

headcanons for haley sdv?

𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑳 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑺 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑬𝒀 ♡‧₊˚ ⋆

synopsis :: general headcannons for haley

authors note :: first request tysm!! sorry it took so long!! I hope you like it!!🫶💖

╰✦ Vlogging. She has a vlogging channel where she does storytimes and vlogs about what she’s doing that day. Haley does challenges and maybe almost has like tiktok. She might sometimes include Alex in her vlogs. I also feel like she definitely has a compilation of her moments like judging people or like sarcastic moments.

╰✦ Modeling. Even though she loves doing photography and being the person taking the pictures, she does have a interest in modeling and has done some modeling. She might bring Emily on shoots or even farmer as well and she would be so excited right after doing them and when they print out, she would be handing them out to people all excited!

╰✦ Baking. One of her big hobbies besides photography is baking. She likes baking stuff for people(most farmer) to try and critique it. She would also bake some things for the events going on in towns and maybe dinner parties.

╰✦ Dogs. Haley gives off more of a dog person than a cat person. Not that she hates cats but she prefers dogs.

╰✦ Holidays. She loves the holidays including Flower Dance, Luau, and Feast of the Winter Star. Decorating and vlogging for it to prepare is her favorite part of the holidays. I feel like once she moves on the farm she also likes to decorate there!

╰✦ Gossip. Haley is the type of person to wait until she hangs out with someone to drop like a bunch of drama. She’s also a quiet instigator in private she’s like “I can’t believe they would say that to you”. Her main gossip buddy is Sam most definitely. (She tried with Alex but he wasn’t remembering stuff and she eventually stopped telling him stuff😭)

╰✦ Love Language. Receiving, she likes gifts and physical touch. She likes to hold your hand especially if you guys are in a crowd. Giving, she usually does quality time and acts of service(her helping on the farm). She likes to bring her spouse along with her on her blogs, shoots and just photograph!

╰✦ Music. She’s definitely a pop girly. She listens to Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, Christina Aguilera, and Dove Cameron(she lowkey reminds me of her). She loves going to concerts too! Like she saves up to be in the front of every concert. She also has tried to do photography for them at one point.

╰✦ Dressup. People definitely come to Haley for makeovers or to get dressed up for dates. Even though I feel like she’s a bit standoffish she gets more friendly and excited when people ask for her help in this kind of stuff. She is rather brutally honest but it’s because she wants the look to be the best it can be!

╰✦ Games. Speaking of Dress Up, I feel like Haley would love DTI and like that one girl's website growing up with all the makeovers. I feel like she would end up getting banned from roblox because she would end up raging on the game(aka speaking her truth).

[useless-catalanfacts]

Video by curiosaire.vlc (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter) about the Valencian tradition of mocadorada or mocadorà on October 9th, day of love 🍈🥕🍉🍅🍆🫑🥔🥒

In the last years, the tradition of Saint Valentine's Day (a tradition from the USA to celebrate love giving chocolates) has arrived to our country too, pushed by the shops trying to sell more things. But here it's a root-less Americanizing tradition that is only celebrated by the shop chains and whose only purpose is making us feel like we need to buy things from shop chains, even though there are increasingly more young people who celebrate it. That's why there's that little joke about it in the video.

English transcription under the cut.

Video of a young white man speaking at the camera in Valencian, with captions in Valencian and English. Here are the English captions:

Saint Valentine, you're an invader! Because in València, the day of lovers is October 9th, Saint Dennis' Day. And we celebrate it with one of the prettiest traditions from the Valencian Country: the mocaorà. And it has been like this since the 15th century, when it's calculated that this tradition started. The legend says that its origin is in the offering that the farmers from Horta de València gave to king James I of Catalonia-Aragon and queen Violant of Hungary in 1238 after he conquered the city of València. What does the mocaorà consist of? It consists of giving your beloved a platter of sweets made of baked marzipan (in the shape of tiny vegetables and fruits), all wrapped in the prettiest shawl you could find. This way, the beloved can wear it in autumn, now that it starts being chilly. The platter's protagonists are two particular figures, named after two kinds of firecrackers. You don't need a master's degree in sexology to understand that they refer to male and female genitalia. King Philip V of Spain, the one who forbid speaking Valencian with the Nueva Planta decrees, didn't like this tradition, and he tried to ban it in the 18th century. Luckily, Valencians told him: (raising his middle finger) get up here and you'll see Paris (meaning go to hell) and continued celebrating it despite his pretentions. The tradition, unfortunately for the Bourbon king, still continues very alive and every year about 100,000 marzipan sweets are sold in València and the towns around it. And the truth is that it's very beautiful seeing the city's bakeries change and get colourful decorations so that lovers can celebrate their love in the sweetest way possible, not to say that they almost reach a sugar overdose, because those marzipans are so overly sweet. So remember, this October 9th is Valencian lovers' day. Saint Valentine's Day? That's a thing of the past! Celebrate Saint Dionís to be a Valencian with pedigree!

[suikasweetheart]

Hind's Hall

Woah! Yeah, the people, they won't leave What is threatenin’ about divesting and wanting peace? The problem isn't the protests, it’s what they're protesting It goes against what our country is funding (Hey) Block the barricade until Palestine is free (Hey) Block the barricade until Palestine is free When I was seven, I learned a lesson from Cube and Eazy-E What was it again? Oh yeah, f**k the police (Woo)

Actors in badges protecting property And a system that was designed by white supremacy (Brrt) But the people are in the streets You can pay off Meta, you can't pay off me Politicians who serve by any means AIPAC, CUFI, and all the companies You see, we sell fear around the land of the free But this generation here is about to cut the strings You can ban TikTok, take us out the algorithm But it's too late, we've seen the truth, we bear witness Seen the rubble, the buildings, the mothers and the children And all the men that you murdered and then we see how you spin it Who gets the right to defend and who gets the right of resistance Has always been about dollars and the color of your pigment, but White supremacy is finally on blast Screaming "Free Palestine" ’til they’re home at last (Woo)

We see the lies in them, claiming it’s antisemitic to be anti-Zionist I've seen Jewish brothers and sisters out there and riding in Solidarity and screaming "Free Palestine" with them Organizin’, unlearning and finally cutting ties with A state that's gotta rely on an apartheid system to uphold an occupying violent History been repeating for the last seventy-five The Nakba never ended, the colonizer lied (Woo) If students in tents posted on the lawn Occupying the quad is really against the law And a reason to call in the police and their squad Where does genocide land in your definition, huh? (Hey; hey) Destroying every college in Gaza and every mosque Pushing everyone into Rafah and dropping bombs The blood is on your hands, Biden, we can see it all And f**k no, I'm not voting for you in the fall (Woo) Undecided, you can't twist the truth, the people out here united Never be defeated when freedom's on the horizon Yet the music industry's quiet, complicit in their platform of silence (Hey, woo)

What happened to the artist? What do you got to say? If I was on a label, you could drop me today I'd be fine with it 'cause the heart fed my page I want a ceasefire, f**k a response from Drake (Woo) What you willing to risk? What you willing to give? What if you were in Gaza? What if those were your kids? If the West was pretending that you didn't exist You'd want the world to stand up and the students finally did, let's get it (Woo)

[lotusishere]

Ya know the hunger games and the French Revolution look REAL nice right now. I fucking hate this country. The land of the “free” my ass. I’m tired of people already telling me that TikTok getting banned is nothing. It’s not nothing. It’s censorship. I think it’s REAL interesting that they’re suddenly more interested in the ban the second the truth about Palestine was being revealed. The fact you can’t see that they’re slowly cutting off what we’re allowed to know about outside this country is concerning.

How the fuck are they banning tiktok and not focusing on affordable housing? Let’s look at our health care system shall we? Actually let’s turn over heads to the 200+ school shootings there’s been. It’s funny how they won’t bat an eye at Americans bleeding and grasping for this country to do what it fucking promised. But the second something intimidates them because the truth of the country gets outed they eliminate it. Please open your eyes. Getting rid of TikTok was for political and presidential GAIN. It’s not about protecting us. It’s about protecting the government.

[bananapancakewithcondensedmilk]

TikTok Ban and Return: A Political Puppet Show?

In a world where media influence and political strategy go hand in hand, the recent TikTok ban and its sudden reinstatement under the leadership of Donald Trump have left many questioning the motives behind it. Was this truly about national security and economic opportunities, or was it a well-orchestrated move to position Trump as a savior in the eyes of the public?

The pattern is familiar: create a crisis, control the narrative, and then swoop in with a "solution" that reinforces leadership strength. This tactic, often referred to as the "problem-reaction-solution" strategy, has been used by political figures throughout history to manipulate public perception and gain loyalty. In this case, TikTok—a platform with millions of users, particularly among younger demographics—became the perfect tool to achieve this.

The Psychology of Political Manipulation

Psychological manipulation is nothing new in politics. Leaders and influential figures, such as Trump and Elon Musk, understand how to leverage public emotion to their advantage. Whether it's by creating a sense of urgency, offering hope, or distracting from more pressing issues, they shape the world according to their values—not necessarily for the greater good.

Studies from institutions such as Oxford University have highlighted how social media platforms are increasingly used for political manipulation, influencing public opinion through disinformation and strategic messaging. The TikTok ban and its sudden reversal fit this pattern perfectly, reinforcing Trump’s image as a leader who "fixes problems" while ensuring that the public stays focused on immediate gratification rather than deeper questions about power and influence.

The Public Response: Waking Up or Staying Numb?

While skepticism is on the rise, the reality is that many people are just relieved that TikTok is back. They focus on the outcome rather than the process, missing the larger implications of how easily they can be swayed by political maneuvers. This short-term thinking benefits those in power, as it allows them to maintain control without facing significant pushback.

However, history shows that a portion of the population will always question these patterns, seeking deeper truths behind political theater. The question remains—will enough people wake up to see through the manipulation, or will they continue to be swayed by the next grand performance?

Conclusion: A Cycle of Control

The TikTok saga serves as a reminder of how leaders use psychological tactics to maintain their influence. Whether it’s through social media policies, economic promises, or nationalistic rhetoric, the game remains the same. As the world becomes more interconnected, the challenge for individuals is to stay informed, question narratives, and recognize when they are being led into a carefully constructed illusion.

Are we witnessing leadership in action, or are we simply participants in a carefully crafted puppet show?

[mrhappyjavaman]

You know what would be the most hilarious thing, that will probably not happen, but it would be hilarious? If all the Americans that went and joined Red Note in protest of the US Ban on TikTok, just didn't go back to TikTok. They stayed on Red Note, kept confirming to the Chinese people that their government is actually telling them the truth in some cases regarding the USA, and learning that their own government has been lying about China for decades.