Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit
blahedo | on: TikTok says it is restoring service for U.S. users
> flip-flop so quickly

The timing and phrasing make it clear that this was planned and negotiated in advance, and the shutdown was just for show in order to be able to post a memo about how "President Trump" saved it. If actual negotiation had to occur, it would not have happened in the twelve hours between midnight and noon on Sunday morning.

The point of the stunt was to persuade large numbers of younger folks that the Ds are the bad guys and Trump in particular is the hero. And it'll work as designed.

mr_toad | parent | next
> If actual negotiation had to occur, it would not have happened in the twelve hours

A spur of the moment decision would be more like Trump than a lengthy negotiation.

iknowSFR | parent | next
What’s the evidence of this? It seems highly plausible but do we have any proof besides speculation?
willis936 | root | parent | next
My partner uses TikTok and was greeted with a message today saying that DJT saved the app. That isn't possible because he isn't president yet. It's all very embarrassing.
agumonkey | root | parent | next
I don't think I will be able to handle 5 more years of this without moving in a very remote place and limited information streams.
throwaway173738 | root | parent | next
I’m going to go found a place I’ll call Galt’s Gulch for maximum irony.
arp242 | root | parent
I'd pay good money for a newspaper that would go out of its way to avoid mentioning Trump, Musk, and all these other highly exasperating people, unless it's completely unavoidable (e.g. "Trump declares war on California").
lubujackson | root | parent | next
Also the CEO of TikTok is going to sit directly behind Trump at the inauguration. It's not even subtle and half the point is that it isn't subtle - bend the knee to Trump and you'll be taken care of, is the message. We operate just like Russia at this point.

Also, expect to see that Facebook is partnering with TikTok on Monday morning. The head of the bill banning TikTok just invested 100 million in Meta... so I imagine there will be a followup announcement how Trump brokered some deal to Americanize TikTok or something.

ceejayoz | root | parent | next
I got an internal ad on Facebook telling me to connect my TikTok account the other day.

https://imgur.com/a/yCOpifC

threecheese | root | parent
We’ve also started seeing TT ads on Reels, and a brand new blue-checked Facebook account appeared on TT yesterday and rapidly gained 100Ks of followers.
throwawayq3423 | root | parent | next
I'm old enough to remember when selling out the American people to the CCP would have been a career ending scandal.
pjc50 | root | parent
Selling them out to the Iranians? Pardoned and the person involved got a job on Fox News (Oliver North).

Selling them out to the Russians? Well, it worked fine last time, a bunch of minor figures went to jail, but the boss remained untouched.

So why not sell out to the Chinese? Remember, it's only illegal when a Democrat does it.

1659447091 | root | parent | next
> Also, expect to see that Facebook is partnering with TikTok on Monday morning. The head of the bill banning TikTok just invested 100 million in Meta... so I imagine there will be a followup announcement how Trump brokered some deal to Americanize TikTok or something.

Well, that makes this interesting. The bill also allowed a 90-day extension if they found a buyer and were in the process of finalizing it.

This may put this cringe ByteDance stunt and Meta/Zuck's pandering to Trump into more perspective. The Hero coming to save the day with a magical 90-day extension. As long as everyone plays their scripted part. On the other hand, it's probably just a funny timed coincidence that will pass in 3 months

[added] The president would have to approve any sale of apps caught in this law

pizza | root | parent
> Also, expect to see that Facebook is partnering with TikTok on Monday morning. The head of the bill banning TikTok just invested 100 million in Meta... so I imagine there will be a followup announcement how Trump brokered some deal to Americanize TikTok or something.

Wait, if this is truly what this outcome was about, this seems.. huge? Can you share more information about that?

mquander | root | parent | next
It's possible for people who aren't currently the president to do things.
ceejayoz | root | parent | next
“Be President while the other guy still is” is not one of them.
loading story #42763066
loading story #42763281
loading story #42763119
tw04 | root | parent | next
It’s actually illegal for people who aren’t currently the president to negotiate as if they were.
loading story #42763636
loading story #42763491
GeneralMayhem | root | parent
Okay, fine, let's play this game.

What did Trump do to get TikTok back online?

loading story #42763206
loading story #42765540
loading story #42763285
loading story #42763147
loading story #42763113
somenameforme | root | parent
If you mean because they used the term "President Trump", that honorific is for life. See, for instance, the recent passing of President Carter for a million examples. If you mean because he couldn't have executed legal actions yet - he could have offered private and legally binding statements to all the major players - Oracle, Apple, and Google.
magicalist | root | parent | next
> he could have offered private and legally binding statements

No, he couldn't? It's not even clear he'll be able to do anything with an executive order when he is sworn in, but President elects certainly can't.

loading story #42764940
anon7000 | root | parent
Presidents are allowed to offer legally binding political favors in private?
loading story #42766716
mihaaly | root | parent | next
Do you need to eat shit to know it is shit?

Isn't it enough to see, smell, you have to touch and eat it repeatedly so you can conclude: yes, this is shit. You are now expert in shit eating and the professional opinion is that this is really shit, no mistake is made here!?

spacecadet | root | parent
Oh maybe the very clear messaging in the app and by the inbound administration, who is heavily supported by tech elites. The same people who have been very open about their feelings towards opposition and who and what they support. No one will come out and claim this was the case, but its not like they are trying to hide it either.
kec | parent
If that’s the case this was totally bungled, the app was down for less than 12 hours, overnight during a weekend. If they wanted maximum effect Trump wouldn’t have tweeted until 5pm eastern to give people a chance to come to terms with the shutdown actually happening.
jvm___ | root | parent | next
They want to be able to livestream the inauguration tomorrow on Tiktok.
loading story #42763593
ajdude | root | parent
They shut down long enough to get attention but not long enough for people to find another platform