From Bans to Blindspots … and other problems from the tech broligarchy
Social media smokescreens
Amid bans, distractions, and fears of WW3, it’s time to confront the control shaping our digital age and rethink the power dynamics driving our world.
I’m not a big TikTok user, and honestly, getting rid of the platform makes my life overall better. Scrolling there gives me symptoms of ADD — and I don’t even have that disorder. I’m there to monitor my kids… actively mom-stalking. Once strongly reluctant to join, I now see the value in it while not over-glorifying the use of it.
But what truly bothers me is how the U.S. government was suddenly so worried about TikTok’s security issues, while platforms like Meta have been caught red-handed influencing algorithms to spread propaganda, as far back as the 2016 election.
My view on the recent TikTok ban, or regulation on any platform? Too little, too late. Tech bros should have been under scrutiny a decade ago for their exploitative strategies, designed to misinform and manipulate the public for profit and personal gain.
That yacht has sailed. Only the orcas can save us now 🐋⛵️
Beyond TikTok: The Bigger Picture
While TikTok may currently be in the spotlight, many of these concerns are not unique to it. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have faced their own scandals — from Cambridge Analytica’s data misuse to the spread of misinformation and the mental health impacts of curated content. Banning one app without addressing the broader ecosystem of social media risks missing the larger picture.
But the TikTok debate isn’t just about data privacy — it’s a mirror reflecting deeper fears about global power dynamics, especially between the U.S. and China.
Let’s address the irrational fear of all things Chinese. We have been outsourcing nearly everything to Asia since the ’90s. By the turn of the century, Chinese manufactured goods were a staple in nearly every Western household. The Chinese-American relationship, in particular, has grown into a comfortably numb toxic codependent marriage by now. Each waiting for the other to die first.
Worried about a war with China? Look at your dependency on your Chinese goods and shopping habits that support Chinese imported goods. It’s supply and demand y’all. And it seems China continues to be warmly welcomed in Western homes and parking lots across the globe on a daily basis.
It’s time for everyone on Earth to evaluate the relationship we have with our material ob(po)ssessions — especially our use of plastic and electronics.
Every time I visit the U.S., I’m struck by how electronics have become part of home décor. There’s a trend of mounting massive flat-screen TVs over the family room mantle. Where did the family portraits go? What about those once-treasured trophy heads of dead animals? Are they now collecting dust in a heated 3-car garage, perhaps?
Misplaced Priorities and the Real Agenda
But here’s the thing about that perfectly timed Chinese-owned TikTok ban. It isn’t really about privacy. It’s another example of misplaced priorities, serving as a distraction from far greater threats.
The growing fascist tech oligarchy — driven by ego and profit — is doing immense harm worldwide. And yet, we keep giving this broligarchy even more control over our digital spaces and lives.
The recent instalment of the TikTok ban isn’t the save you think it is. It only takes a day or two to migrate servers, and Elon just secured this process successfully with X recently. Upon its return, the algorithms have changed. The space operates a wee bit differently now as savvy creators understand they are being surveillanced.
The Global Web of Control
There are billions of people around the world who refuse to buy into the hyper-consumption models plutocrats are force-feeding us. And let me tell you, as a writer, trying to avoid Amazon is like being the vegan friend in a BBQ-loving group. “Where else can I buy your book because I refuse to support Bezos?” doesn’t earn me friends, or financial rewards in my writing career. Yet, I refuse to subscribe to the ethics of Bozos as he is a terrible human being 🙄
Meanwhile, half of America re-elected a convicted criminal banned from running businesses and charities in his home state for corruption and theft of charity funds — a man who attempted to violently overthrow an election. Oh, and he’s also a sex offender, and we have the audacity to call this democracy? Y’all. Just no.
Chinese citizens, on average, don’t have a choice. They endure hard-line authoritarian communism — not the romanticised Marxist version Americans often glorify. But we Americans? We do have a choice. And yet, we’ve chosen misogynistic neoliberal fascism as our current flavor.
The Real Threat Behind the TikTok Ban
The rest of the world has suffered immensely under the influence of America’s ego-ridden political dysfunction. We are not the saviour from the myth of “” we have fooled others with for decades, and if this is the latest version of the , then I want no part of it.
TikTok’s sudden fall from grace wasn’t about U.S. security. The final nail in the coffin was over the surge of recent pro-Palestinian content. If we want to talk about social media control, let’s look at elite Zionist groups, inclusive celebrities and other people of in powerful positions, influencing platforms and media. The connection to corporate and private funding influencing media and film is absurdly stupid.
Rest assure that when things simmer down in Washington, D.C., dramatic scandals usually heat up elsewhere. By now, it’s easy to follow trends that repeat abusive patterns.
What Can You Do?
So, here are some tips for immediate activation … 🤝
We’re only at the beginning of shaping a revolutionary chapter in history. Relax, touch some grass 🌱➡️⛰️, and focus on what really matters. Safeguard your heart and ensure your voice is heard by those that matter the most.
Content Creators 📝
Leave a digital footprint through newsletters, blogs, and meaningful conversations.
Poach clients by making thoughtful comments and sharing your expertise.
Offer your service to a collective order and trust the right clients will find you.
Make a landing page, set up a Link Tree thingy () and beef up content on your website.
Ensure you have an email list you can take with you at the click of a toggle.
Are you using your social media to advocate for democracy? Stand in solidarity and unite in diversity. Find a virtual tribe of people doing the same thing you are doing, or wish to do, and join forces.
Use these next years to help create in-real-life relationships that spark growth and evolutionary change. Which always begins first with yourself, then moves to a community level to spread inspiration.
Be adaptable and fluid — you only need to leave a digital footprint and pin a couple of key messages/posts to any one platform.
I feel YouTube and LinkedIn are still okay-ish for now, but as the dismantling of the patriarchal media continues, trends will continue to shift. I’m not able to address much more here without this article being overly long, but will end with ….
… don’t let the illusion of control distract you. This is our chance to shape something better. The power is ALWAYS with the people.
Let’s not waste it 🙌
The Slippery Slope of Regulation
The debate of regulation also raises deeper questions about censorship and freedom of speech. If TikTok is banned for its data practices, should other apps and services with similar issues face the same fate? Critics worry about the precedent this sets:
Who gets to decide what content is acceptable?
What is the best practice or standard of measure in setting Community Guidelines?
How do we ensure that protecting security and mental health doesn’t lead to overreach, or further censorship?
I most certainly do not have any answers for these questions. This debate is not just about any one platform or application — it’s about how we interact with technology as a society. Here are some more questions I ponder…are there any lawyers or compliance people reading here?!
What responsibilities do governments have in regulating platforms that pose risks to security, mental health, or local economies?
How can we as individuals balance the benefits of social media with its potential harms?
If we prioritise banning apps or services deemed harmful, where does regulation end? How do we safeguard freedoms while addressing legitimate concerns?
Moving Forward
Social media is a powerful tool, and like any tool, its value depends on how it’s used. The recent TikTok ban is just one part of a larger conversation about how we further integrate technology into our lives, how much power we allow it to have, and what boundaries we set as individuals and societies. This moment challenges us to reflect on the systems we’ve created and the values we want to uphold.
The real question isn’t just about social media’s future, but about our collective ability to navigate the digital age with wisdom and foresight.
In Solidarity xx
#RESIST
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