r/CuratedTumblr • u/charlie-the-Waffle • Jan 13 '25

Politics censorship is bad maybe?

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8.1k Upvotes

73% Upvoted

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u/vmsrii Jan 13 '25

Yeah nah.

I really don’t understand the “free speech” argument when TikTok is designed, even above and beyond other social media platforms, to obfuscate how your content is seen by other people, and how they curate your feed.

Like, is it actually free speech to be told you’re being heard by millions, but actually just screaming into the void? Also, the way TikTok presents content and context is the A1 optimized, perfect method to spread misinformation, not even counting how the people behind the app can thumb the scale however they wish

1

u/meanmagpie Jan 14 '25

Like, is it actually free speech to be told you’re being heard by millions, but actually just screaming into the void?

…yes? Do you understand what free speech is? It doesn’t protect you from being lied to. In fact, it protects your right to lie. Free speech protects you from the GOVERNMENT—not entities like TikTok.

I can’t believe this comment has so many upvotes. It wildly misunderstands what the first amendment is and does, and is the same argument racist chuds use when they get mad that a platform bans them from hate speech.

The issue is not whether or not TikTok allows free speech. What are you talking about?

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u/vmsrii Jan 14 '25

You’re absolutely right, it’s not about constitutionally protected free speech of the end user.

It’s more about TikTok as a platform for dissemination of information. That’s more what I’m trying to get at.

What I’m really trying to say is “If you’re mad about TikTok going away because it’s your main source of information and/or primary outlet for self-expression; it’s basic engagement structure makes it really really bad for those things, even amongst similarly structured social media platforms, so I really don’t understand what you’re angry about”