Ryan Nee
@ryannee.bsky.social
Nomadic for 5+ years. Now in Minneapolis. Principal Product Designer @ Mural. Lover of travel, history, books, and food.
Assuming you’re reading a physical copy, have a dictionary handy and use a second bookmark to keep your place in the footnotes!
January 23, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Assuming you’re reading a physical copy, have a dictionary handy and use a second bookmark to keep your place in the footnotes!
I’m an average height.
January 18, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I’m an average height.
Agreed.
Musk and Zuck’s right to free speech lets them control their algorithms as they desire. That’s the protected speech.
TikTok algorithm’s owners have no constitutional rights.
Users of any social media service have no consitutional right to free speech within that privately-run service.
Musk and Zuck’s right to free speech lets them control their algorithms as they desire. That’s the protected speech.
TikTok algorithm’s owners have no constitutional rights.
Users of any social media service have no consitutional right to free speech within that privately-run service.
January 16, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Agreed.
Musk and Zuck’s right to free speech lets them control their algorithms as they desire. That’s the protected speech.
TikTok algorithm’s owners have no constitutional rights.
Users of any social media service have no consitutional right to free speech within that privately-run service.
Musk and Zuck’s right to free speech lets them control their algorithms as they desire. That’s the protected speech.
TikTok algorithm’s owners have no constitutional rights.
Users of any social media service have no consitutional right to free speech within that privately-run service.
Musk and Zuck:
• Constitutional right to free speech (their algorithms are a form of speech)
• Can be sued, fined, or jailed for breaking laws (unlikely but theoretically possible)
TikTok algorithm’s owners:
• No constitutional right to free speech in US
• Cannot be sued, fined, or jailed
• Constitutional right to free speech (their algorithms are a form of speech)
• Can be sued, fined, or jailed for breaking laws (unlikely but theoretically possible)
TikTok algorithm’s owners:
• No constitutional right to free speech in US
• Cannot be sued, fined, or jailed
January 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Musk and Zuck:
• Constitutional right to free speech (their algorithms are a form of speech)
• Can be sued, fined, or jailed for breaking laws (unlikely but theoretically possible)
TikTok algorithm’s owners:
• No constitutional right to free speech in US
• Cannot be sued, fined, or jailed
• Constitutional right to free speech (their algorithms are a form of speech)
• Can be sued, fined, or jailed for breaking laws (unlikely but theoretically possible)
TikTok algorithm’s owners:
• No constitutional right to free speech in US
• Cannot be sued, fined, or jailed
I don’t think they belong in jail or will go to jail. All I am saying is:
TikTok’s algorithm owners:
0.0% chance of fines, lawsuits, or jail time because they’re not governed by our laws
Meta & X’s algorithm owners:
Higher than 0.0% chance because they are governed by our laws
TikTok’s algorithm owners:
0.0% chance of fines, lawsuits, or jail time because they’re not governed by our laws
Meta & X’s algorithm owners:
Higher than 0.0% chance because they are governed by our laws
January 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I don’t think they belong in jail or will go to jail. All I am saying is:
TikTok’s algorithm owners:
0.0% chance of fines, lawsuits, or jail time because they’re not governed by our laws
Meta & X’s algorithm owners:
Higher than 0.0% chance because they are governed by our laws
TikTok’s algorithm owners:
0.0% chance of fines, lawsuits, or jail time because they’re not governed by our laws
Meta & X’s algorithm owners:
Higher than 0.0% chance because they are governed by our laws
Yes, I have been in a coma.
January 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Yes, I have been in a coma.
I don’t want to duck out of the conversation — I want to go wander around an Italian town, which is more compelling than talking to a fifteen year old on the internet.
January 15, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I don’t want to duck out of the conversation — I want to go wander around an Italian town, which is more compelling than talking to a fifteen year old on the internet.
Because we’ve caused a ton of problems in the world since World War II, or for some other reason?
January 15, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Because we’ve caused a ton of problems in the world since World War II, or for some other reason?
I don’t think I’m going to successfully persuade you, and I want to go start my day now (I’m in Europe at the moment).
Thanks for the conversation.
Thanks for the conversation.
January 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
I don’t think I’m going to successfully persuade you, and I want to go start my day now (I’m in Europe at the moment).
Thanks for the conversation.
Thanks for the conversation.
I assure you that people talk negatively about Joe Biden/Israel outside TikTok.
We should ban it because it’s a national security threat. Do you believe the Chinese Communist Party would never purposefully harm America via the algorithm? (e.g. dumbing us all down slowly over many years)
We should ban it because it’s a national security threat. Do you believe the Chinese Communist Party would never purposefully harm America via the algorithm? (e.g. dumbing us all down slowly over many years)
January 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I assure you that people talk negatively about Joe Biden/Israel outside TikTok.
We should ban it because it’s a national security threat. Do you believe the Chinese Communist Party would never purposefully harm America via the algorithm? (e.g. dumbing us all down slowly over many years)
We should ban it because it’s a national security threat. Do you believe the Chinese Communist Party would never purposefully harm America via the algorithm? (e.g. dumbing us all down slowly over many years)
An alternative to banning TikTok in the US.
January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
An alternative to banning TikTok in the US.
What do you propose as an alternative? What do you believe is the best path forward?
January 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
What do you propose as an alternative? What do you believe is the best path forward?
Facebook is literally being sued by the federal government right now, and it probably won’t be the last time. You can argue that this doesn’t matter, but the alternative (in TikTok’s case) is literally no possible repercussions at all.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
Facebook, Inc., FTC v.
The Federal Trade Commission has sued Facebook, alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct. The c...
www.ftc.gov
January 15, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Facebook is literally being sued by the federal government right now, and it probably won’t be the last time. You can argue that this doesn’t matter, but the alternative (in TikTok’s case) is literally no possible repercussions at all.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
Spoon-feed would be best.
January 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Spoon-feed would be best.
I’m not suggesting that they’re not doing anything nefarious. I think both Musk and Zuck are both harmful assholes.
I’m saying that they (and other people in their company) can be sued, fined, or put in jail. People who control the TikTok algorithm literally cannot. That’s the difference.
I’m saying that they (and other people in their company) can be sued, fined, or put in jail. People who control the TikTok algorithm literally cannot. That’s the difference.
January 15, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I’m not suggesting that they’re not doing anything nefarious. I think both Musk and Zuck are both harmful assholes.
I’m saying that they (and other people in their company) can be sued, fined, or put in jail. People who control the TikTok algorithm literally cannot. That’s the difference.
I’m saying that they (and other people in their company) can be sued, fined, or put in jail. People who control the TikTok algorithm literally cannot. That’s the difference.
I’m not saying which algorithms are good or bad — I’m saying that some algorithms can be affected by our democratically-elected government (via lawsuits, fines, jail time, etc.) and some literally can’t.
January 15, 2025 at 7:26 AM
I’m not saying which algorithms are good or bad — I’m saying that some algorithms can be affected by our democratically-elected government (via lawsuits, fines, jail time, etc.) and some literally can’t.
Being correct is indeed adorable, thank you for saying so.
January 15, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Being correct is indeed adorable, thank you for saying so.
There are repercussions. Maybe not particularly effective ones, but with TikTok there is nobody to sue, fine, or jail.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
Facebook, Inc., FTC v.
The Federal Trade Commission has sued Facebook, alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct. The c...
www.ftc.gov
January 15, 2025 at 7:22 AM
There are repercussions. Maybe not particularly effective ones, but with TikTok there is nobody to sue, fine, or jail.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
At what point did I say that joining an app is enough to overturn an American’s worldview?
January 15, 2025 at 7:20 AM
At what point did I say that joining an app is enough to overturn an American’s worldview?
Having your data is only a minor part of the problem.
The main problem: the Chinese gov’t being able to manipulate us and slowly reprogram our brains with no possible repercussions.
Musk and Zuck can do that also, but there can be criminal repercussions if they do so nefariously. Not for China.
The main problem: the Chinese gov’t being able to manipulate us and slowly reprogram our brains with no possible repercussions.
Musk and Zuck can do that also, but there can be criminal repercussions if they do so nefariously. Not for China.
January 15, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Having your data is only a minor part of the problem.
The main problem: the Chinese gov’t being able to manipulate us and slowly reprogram our brains with no possible repercussions.
Musk and Zuck can do that also, but there can be criminal repercussions if they do so nefariously. Not for China.
The main problem: the Chinese gov’t being able to manipulate us and slowly reprogram our brains with no possible repercussions.
Musk and Zuck can do that also, but there can be criminal repercussions if they do so nefariously. Not for China.
All human interaction is brainwashing to some degree. Our point of view unknowingly changes slightly when we have a conversation, listen to a podcast, read a book, etc.
TikTok’s CCP-controlled algorithm is capable of astonishing brain alteration — all wrapped in highly-personalized entertainment.
TikTok’s CCP-controlled algorithm is capable of astonishing brain alteration — all wrapped in highly-personalized entertainment.
January 15, 2025 at 6:45 AM
All human interaction is brainwashing to some degree. Our point of view unknowingly changes slightly when we have a conversation, listen to a podcast, read a book, etc.
TikTok’s CCP-controlled algorithm is capable of astonishing brain alteration — all wrapped in highly-personalized entertainment.
TikTok’s CCP-controlled algorithm is capable of astonishing brain alteration — all wrapped in highly-personalized entertainment.
How is that related to this situation? Because TikTok is the world’s most advanced and widespread brainwashing machine ever created?
January 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
How is that related to this situation? Because TikTok is the world’s most advanced and widespread brainwashing machine ever created?
Yes. For example:
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
You may be (justifiably) jaded about how effective things like this are, but at least they are possible. With TikTok, there’s nobody to sue, fine, or jail.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
You may be (justifiably) jaded about how effective things like this are, but at least they are possible. With TikTok, there’s nobody to sue, fine, or jail.
Facebook, Inc., FTC v.
The Federal Trade Commission has sued Facebook, alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct. The c...
www.ftc.gov
January 15, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Yes. For example:
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
You may be (justifiably) jaded about how effective things like this are, but at least they are possible. With TikTok, there’s nobody to sue, fine, or jail.
www.ftc.gov/legal-librar...
You may be (justifiably) jaded about how effective things like this are, but at least they are possible. With TikTok, there’s nobody to sue, fine, or jail.