The real problem is the algorithmic control this gives China to influence the populations of Western countries. But Meta was found to outsource content moderation to a Canadian company that outsourced Instagram content moderation to Iran.
This is not about privacy. These platforms have become the new media. Getting your news from profit-seeking American and Chinese companies is not ideal in the long run.
The first amendment allows us to choose whatever we want to influence us. If Americans want to sit in front of Chinese controlled social media and gorge on it, that's our right. I don't agree the government can take it away. The idea that they should control what influenced us is very anti democratic.
Just seems like pretty incomplete control if they can still let themselves get to this point.
And if you're talking about public opinion, just look down this thread - most people are against this action, not for it.
And unlike that metaphor, TikTok offers basically 0 value over replacement compared to other media. Maybe it’s even worse than other media since it’s more addictive.
But either way, if my state is banning things based on their "value", on what might be "dangerous" to my thought, well, I might as well move to China! Because its the same thing there, but at least I know I can get cheap rent.
They did try: https://gizmodo.com/tiktok-activates-army-of-u-s-tweens-to-s...
"TikTok sent a push notification to United States users on Thursday morning asking them to call their local representative to “Stop a TikTok shutdown.” The app refers to a bipartisan bill gaining momentum in Congress this week which could ban TikTok altogether."