I’ve literally watched friends of mine descend into far right thinking and I can point to the moment when they started having algorithms suggest content that puts them down a “rabbit hole”

Like, you’re not wrong they were right wing but they became “lmao I’m an unironic fascist and you should be pilled like me” variety over a period of six months or so. Started stock piling guns and etc.

This phenomena is so commonly reported it makes you start wonder where all these people deciding to “radicalize themselves” all at once.

Additionally, these companies are responsible for their content serving algorithms and if they did not matter for affecting the thoughts of the users: why do propaganda efforts from nation states target having their narratives and interests appear within them if it was not effective? Did we forget the spawn and ensuing fall out of the Arab Spring?

Like, Christ — this is the kinda shit Microsoft has to do when they are the majority market share of desktop computing?

Did the same thing. I switched my number and only gave it out in my professional and personal life. Zero spam calls.

That does mean no “rewards programs” at stores and what have you as well.

I agree! Both are issues, but I was giving a different context where a TikTok user may not care about it being under the thumb of the CCP.

It depends. I’ve heard second hand accounts that TikTok can push pro-Chinese propaganda, and whenever I pointed out that China isn’t some lefty paradise to some people in my life they were either shocked or fell into the “you’re falling in line with the Western Propaganda, I see 😏”