It is not defense of TikTok to point out that all platforms are practically identical: centralized, closed source networks that collect ridiculously detailed data about millions of people, and are in a position to process that data for all kinds of fun stuff like surveilling people's physical movement, creating recommendation algorithms, performing sentiment analysis, and using those tools to try to manipulate populations, influence public thought, and sway elections.

There is no behavior that TikTok exhibits that isn't equally applicable to every major social media.

I don't particularly care whether right now, the CCP happens to use that manipulative potential for its own ends more than the US does. It shouldn't be hard to take a principled stand against dystopian surveillance.

I don't understand people who correctly point out that TikTok is a "vector for influence of public opinion", but somehow think that's only a bad thing if it's controlled by a "geopolitical adversary".

I'm a US citizen, not being paid by China, and I've never used TikTok, but I think this ban is bad. I believe Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are bigger threats to the people that live in the US than China is. This ban gives them more power by eliminating one of their largest competitors. That's bad.

> Is this website being specifically targeted for astroturfing

Of course