Tiktok is one of the largest social networking platforms in the world, and a growing number of people are using it to share political content. This content is usually related to politics and geopolitics, and spreads faster than real news. Keeping politics out of a social platform is a key factor to keep users safe. The following are some of the reasons why a social platform should avoid sharing political content.
Misinformation spreads faster than the truth
According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab and MIT Sloan School of Management, it’s true that misinformation has taken the internet by storm. And although the specter of fake news is nothing new, the ability to spread information without the proper credentials has risen to the top of the totem pole.
It’s also no secret that the internet provides a vast array of conspiracy theories. Some of these go so far as to create the illusion of legitimacy for groups who are supposedly legitimate defenders of important values.
A new study from MIT delved into the murky waters of Twitter and found that a well crafted false news story can spread as much as six times faster than a well researched and substantiated true news item. And while there is no definitive proof that bots are responsible for the spread of misinformation, humans do play a big role in generating and spreading falsehoods.
The most important finding of the study was that the best way to counteract the scourge of fabricated news is to build a social network that allows users to rebut falsehoods with real human veracity. And that doesn’t mean just retweeting or retweeting links. The MIT study was designed to identify best practices for how best to stifle the dissemination of false news on social media.
While the MIT study has a long way to go before it can be considered a definitive measure of the effectiveness of social networks, it has some serious implications for companies that make or use social networks. It is possible to see a reversal in the future as more and more individuals have access to the internet, but the question is whether they are equipped with the knowledge to counter the scourge of bogus stories. The same study suggests that a plethora of interdisciplinary studies and tests may be necessary to discover the optimal ways to debunk misinformation.
In particular, MIT researchers suggest the following steps: develop a robust social networking platform and community, devise a best practices for identifying and countering falsehoods, and develop a formalized response plan.
Utopian ideologies
Utopianisms are an array of ideologies that seek to create a better society. They often assume an unscientific view of human nature and tend to seek to eliminate or remove the enemies of the ideal society.
Utopian ideologies are usually linked to mass-based social movements and revolutionary regimes. They are also associated with massive violations of human rights in the twentieth century.
Anti-utopianists argue that these ideologies are ineffective because they do not adequately address the real problems facing the world. They argue that the optimism of these ideas is misguided and that it fails to acknowledge the limitations of human nature.
However, utopianism has also played a crucial role in advancing democratic gains in the modern era. Advocates of these ideologies imagined a society that was egalitarian, free of government intervention, and based on the principles of knowledge, liberty, and free speech. They also envisioned a society that was free of poverty and forced labor.
While the definitions and objectives of these ideologies vary, they all aim to achieve a society that is qualitatively superior to the existing one. For example, the socialists imagined a unified society with prosperity for all. Meanwhile, the anarchists believe that true freedom is attainable without state intervention.
Some of the most important utopian books include Men Like Gods, written by H.G. Wells, in 1921. Other influential utopian texts include New Atlantis, written by Sir Francis Bacon, in the 16th century, and Thomas More’s classic utopian fable, Utopia, written in the fifteenth century.
In the twentieth century, utopian imaginaries flourished in America, particularly during the turbulent 1970s. Many religious communities saw themselves as harbingers of utopia, with visions of a world of peace and unity. Nonetheless, utopias have always been snatched away by the harsh reality of human differences.
In the present, utopian ideas are being reframed through various avocations, such as Star Trek fandom. These ideas are now mainstream. People are seeking ways to reframe their lived lockdown realities, and summon control over the unpredictable. In the past, these ideas were once obscure and unfashionable.
Geopolitical entanglements
TikTok has dominated the social media landscape with its slenderest of fingers. The company claims to be the largest user-generated video platform, but the truth is, the Chinese government is a benevolent overlord. For starters, the tiniest of fingers has been the subject of a number of scandals.
TikTok has a lot of cool tricks up its sleeve. The gist of it all is that it has helped to close cultural gaps and provide a platform for experimentation. One of the most interesting and engaging aspects is the way users can interact with each other through shared symbolic resources, including gifs and emojis. In other words, it’s like a social network on steroids. However, a number of countries have been banning Chinese apps from their networks in the wake of the recent diplomatic squabbles between Beijing and Washington.
A recent TEDxTikTok event delved into the subject, revealing the tangled web of entanglements. Among the more interesting developments was a “strange” video of Chinese teens pranking Trump’s team in the TikTok app’s new Tulsa, Oklahoma branch. The tangled web may have to do with the company’s opaque recommendation algorithm and its lack of an official censorship policy. It’s also unclear whether the Chinese government can access the data it collects. In short, it has the potential to be a vessel for the Chinese leadership’s whims.
There’s no guarantee that the Chinese government will actually take the plunge and allow TikTok into its nascent ecosystem, but it’s clear that the platform has a large social impact. It’s a good thing the Chinese tiniest of fingers isn’t yet the next Facebook. The social network has had a few embarrassing mishaps of its own, but it’s not nearly as prone to user-generated shady practices as its larger, more slick counterparts. Despite its size, it’s been able to make an impact on the global stage in the ensuing years. If it continues to prosper, we may soon see more TikToks in our lives. Until then, a tangled web will remain. Among other things, TikTok has helped to bridge cultural gaps, a feat that no other social media platform has been able to achieve.