Dispatches from the Empire


Jewish Celebrities and Influencers Confront TikTok Executives in Private Call

“What is happening at TikTok is it is creating the biggest antisemitic movement since the Nazis,” Mr. Cohen, who does not appear to have an official TikTok account, said early in the call. He criticized violent imagery and disinformation on the platform, telling Mr. Presser, “Shame on you,” and claiming that TikTok could “flip a switch” to fix antisemitism on its platform.

How is everyone liking their corporate rule?

TikTok has real power. Facebook (which owns Instagram) has real power. Google has real power.

This is not okay.

I hate these companies, all of whom, at their heart, are advertising companies. They run social media platforms so they can sell you ads. That’s how they make their money. That’s the whole point.

People want to blame their phones, as I am wont to do at times, but the smartphone is merely a tool. You don’t have to use it for social media.

Fuck.

What on earth are people thinking when they use social media?

Oh right, they’re not thinking — their neurology has been hijacked. They’re addicted.

Children. We let children use TikTok. We’ve let our children become addicts, just like us. How is this okay? Why are we not filled with rage each and every time we see a parent hand over their phone to their child?

Yes, I’m blaming addicts for their addiction, but we’ve let our children become addicts, too.

Let that sink in.

For fuck’s sake.