By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump signed an executive order facilitating a deal that would transfer majority ownership of TikTok to American investors. The agreement stipulates that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, will hold less than 20% ownership, with American investors controlling the remaining 80% and the algorithm. Notable figures involved include Oracle and its co-founder Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and Rupert Murdoch, though the finer details are still being finalized. This deal follows years of scrutiny over data security and potential Chinese government influence, with the extended ban’s non-enforcement lasting until January 23 to allow for completion.
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Trump signs executive order facilitating TikTok deal, and honestly, it’s a lot to unpack. It seems like a pretty big deal, and naturally, a lot of questions are popping up. Why is an executive order even needed for a business deal in the first place? It’s a fair point to raise. It does seem a little strange, doesn’t it? A lot of people are thinking along those lines. And you know, when we start talking about executive orders, it brings up questions about the scope of presidential power. Is this the right tool for the job?
The level of “algorithm propaganda,” as some are calling it, is definitely something to consider. If the algorithm is being controlled or influenced, what’s going to be the impact on users? Some are concerned about the potential for manipulation, and that’s understandable. We’re all pretty savvy about the power of social media to shape what we see and believe. And that brings up another huge question: who benefits from this deal? There’s a lot of talk about who might be getting a piece of the pie. People are wondering if this is just a way to enrich some already wealthy individuals and companies. And honestly, that suspicion isn’t completely out of left field.
The idea of the U.S. acquiring the rights to our own data is a bit of a scary thought, isn’t it? It looks like the deal is set up so that U.S. companies can now buy a large chunk of TikTok’s ownership, with some going to Chinese interests, and some of the shares will still stay in China’s hands. The worry is that instead of Chinese influence, we are now going to be seeing a lot of MAGA propaganda. The question is: who’s really in control? Some are concerned that this could be the creation of something that looks like government-run social media, something that feels more authoritarian.
The whole situation has sparked a lot of cynicism, and understandably so. It’s easy to see this as political showboating, a way for the administration to look good or distract from other issues. You see a lot of people talking about a lack of trust. There’s a strong sentiment that this deal is not being done in the public’s best interest. Also, why the rush? Some people think this move is being used to deflect attention from other controversial matters, which is not surprising.
Some people also think that this is the wrong thing to do, that we are just handing off the data we were so concerned about in the first place. The sentiment that these companies already have a lot of information, and it’s out there and not going anywhere. It’s a point worth considering. Are we just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? If the data’s already out there, isn’t it too late? This deal seems to be happening at the barn door after the horse has already bolted.
The core issue is this. Are we better off with American control than Chinese control? And is there some kind of manipulation going on, something that’s more about politics than about securing data or national security? Many people are also asking if it would be better to just delete TikTok altogether. It seems like a lot of folks feel this way.
Of course, there are the questions about who would be pulling the strings on the algorithm. The deal would reportedly give American investors control over it. But what does that really mean? Will the content on TikTok be tailored to fit a particular political agenda? It’s a real concern. How can we ensure that a social media platform is fair and balanced? The app’s personalized algorithm has made it famous, but it could be a tool for good or bad. It’s clear the concern is the potential for manipulation. Many suspect that the algorithm will now be manipulated to suit the GOP’s needs.
All in all, it feels like there’s a lot of skepticism about this executive order and the deal it facilitates. People are questioning the motivations, the implications, and whether this is really the best way forward. The bottom line is that this is not a simple issue, and there are a lot of unanswered questions. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds, and whether the concerns that are being raised will be addressed.