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🚨 The TikTok ban could be Trump's first big challenge as dealmaker-in-chief! 🏛️ Dive into the details and implications of this pivotal moment in politics. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCgx5fqj #Trump #TikTokBan #Politics

Trump stays TikTok ban on first day of presidency. Donald Trump’s supporters and critics are anticipating further executive orders around the use of technology, content censorship, media reportage and related issues. #pitch #Trump #TikTok #Ban #Presidency #DigitalNews #TikTokBan #USPolitics #SocialMedia #TechNews #ExecuiveOrder #USGovernment #DigitalPolicy

Is TikTok having a Cambridge Analytica moment? The recent Romanian presidential election underscores the transformative impact of social media on political engagement. Călin Georgescu, a far-right, pro-Russian candidate, leveraged TikTok to achieve a surprising first-round victory, raising concerns about the platform’s role in democratic processes. This mirrors the 2016 U.S. election, where Donald Trump’s adept use of social media and podcasts played a pivotal role in his success. As digital platforms become the core of political discourse, we to scrutinise their influence on democracy and ensure they foster informed and fair engagement and understand what is behind the algorithm. https://lnkd.in/edrpcSEd

“TikTok spent the past four years trying to fend off a U.S. ban, but it never figured out Washington. The law signed by President Biden on Wednesday requiring a sale or ban of the popular app was in part the product of tectonic shifts in U.S.-China relations and coordinated, stealthy efforts by its critics on Capitol Hill. Those factors were compounded by a series of miscalculations that, in the end, left the Chinese-backed company scrambling for support among its users in ways that were ineffective or even backfired. TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew missed opportunities early in his tenure to try to build support on Capitol Hill — and instead depended on negotiations with U.S. security officials over a complex restructuring that never panned out. In recent months, TikTok was outflanked by opponents and repeatedly surprised by the surging momentum against it in Washington, leading to last-ditch steps to rally support that reinforced many lawmakers’ concerns about the Chinese app’s ability to influence public opinion.” “During its 2020 battle against a ban effort by President Donald Trump, TikTok had been led by a U.S. executive and an Australian. In mid-2021, parent company ByteDance tapped Chew, in part because of his extensive bicultural experience. Born and raised in Singapore, the 41-year-old is fluent in Mandarin, attended Harvard Business School and worked for Goldman Sachs. He lacked, however, extensive experience with U.S. politics. People close to Chew urged him to get to know Washington’s power players. In early 2022, Chew told employees in multiple calls that a deal with the U.S. government was nearly done. But within a couple months, it was clear that something was off. By Au-gust, Cfius wasn’t returning TikTok’s calls. That December, TikTok learned House lawmakers wanted Chew to testify. Chew faced a barrage of harsh questioning over more than five hours in the March hearing. TikTok was getting help from Club for Growth, a powerful conservative group backed by financier Jeff Yass.” “Susquehanna International Group is a major shareholder of Tik-Tok’s parent company. And President Biden joined TikTok on Super Bowl Sunday to reach younger voters. The situation lulled some inside TikTok into thinking it was safe. But the ground was al-ready shifting against it. After Chew’s testimony, Scalise began discussions with lawmakers, tasking a new select committee on China with drafting bipartisan legislation. Sentiment against China in Congress was continuing to sour, and criticism of TikTok gained new momentum because of anger over TikTok videos about the Israel-Hamas conflict, which many critics claimed were disproportionately anti-Israel. A spokesman for Yass, a longtime supporter of libertarian causes, said opposing a TikTok ban was ‘libertarianism 101.’ The pressure stoked some anxiety among lawmakers but also some resentment. Ultimately, the bill passed through Congress because TikTok couldn’t dissuade lawmakers.”

Should national security concerns override the freedom of foreign-owned media companies to operate in the United States? Congress bans TikTok, a foreign-owned (China) media company, from doing business in the United States for reasons of national security. The Supreme Court unanimously upholds the ban under existing law prohibiting foreign ownership of media companies in America. Again, national security. What does Donald Trump do? He invites the CEO of TikTok to the inauguration! #NationalSecurity #MediaOwnership #PoliticalControversy

Biden uses social media to exit the presidential race, bypassing traditional media to prevent leaks. It certainly has advantages: it assures that everyone gets the news at the same time and that the sender remains in control over the message. But as Axios rightfully notes, there is a huge risk in using social media for official announcements, because of the glaring problem with misinformation on the platforms - and the unwillingness of some platforms to deal with it. The more users will become used to reading official announcements on these platforms, the more they will be used for misinformation. Note that it took about 15 minutes before media reported it - the time traditional media needed to fact check the news. That's a good thing. You don't want to be the journalist/media outlet who copy-pastes this and get it wrong. https://lnkd.in/evd2H9eN

The saga of Donald Trump vs. TikTok has been nothing short of surreal—a story filled with power plays, court battles, and even surprise appearances (looking at you, Joe Rogan). January 21, 2:30 a.m. Trump declares the U.S. “deserves” 50% of TikTok and threatens tariffs up to 100% if China resists. Subtle diplomacy at its finest. January 20, 8:20 p.m. He signs an order delaying the ban for 75 days, giving his administration more time to “figure it out.” Translation: someone else needs to solve this. January 19, 5:30 p.m. At a rally, Trump proclaims, “TikTok is back!” and suggests a joint U.S.-China venture. Clearly, he sees TikTok as his next big business project—just with glitter filters. January 19, 1:50 p.m. TikTok comes back online with a message thanking Trump for his efforts. All that’s missing? A Trump selfie with a sparkle filter. January 19, 7:03 a.m. On Truth Social, Trump declares: “SAVE TIKTOK.” Because what better way to save democracy than an all-caps post? January 18, 11:00 p.m. TikTok shuts down in the U.S. with a message saying it’s temporarily unavailable but reassures users that Trump is working on a solution. And so it goes—lawsuits, court rulings, threats of tariffs, and Elon Musk briefly considered as a buyer. All of this for an app that lets people lip-sync and dance. The takeaway? Never underestimate the power of a teenager with a smartphone and Wi-Fi. What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss!

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘁𝗼 '𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆' 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝗧𝗼𝗸 𝟵𝟬-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗻 His statement comes after the global social media platform warned it would go dark on Jan 19 until outgoing President Joe Biden gave assurances that the ban will not be imposed. Read More 👉 https://lnkd.in/gYN_aTN2 #TikTokBan #TrumpAdministration #SocialMedia #90DayReprieve #USPolitics #TechPolicy #TikTokUpdates #EPNews

Explore the implications of Biden and Harris's silence on Brazil's ban of social media platform X, delving into the complexities of free speech and misinformation in the digital age. Discover the controversy surrounding President Biden and Vice President Harris's silence on Brazil's ban of the social media platform X. This article examines the Supreme Court's ruling, Elon Musk's response, and the broader implications for free speech and misinformation. Understand the strategic political decisions and the challenges of regulating misinformation while safeguarding democratic principles in today's digital landscape.