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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   34962 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of April 3, 2023

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By more than two-to-one, Americans support U.S. government banning TikTok from Pew Research

More than twice as many Americans support the U.S. government banning TikTok as oppose it (50% vs. 22%), though a sizable share (28%) are not sure, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app.

Support for a government ban on TikTok is higher among Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party than among Democrats and Democratic leaners (60% vs. 43%). It’s particularly high among conservative Republicans (70%) and less so among moderate or liberal Republicans (46%). Among Democrats, conservatives and moderates are more supportive of a ban than liberals (49% vs. 36%).

Older Americans are much more supportive of banning the platform than younger ones: 71% of those ages 65 and older support it, compared with 54% of those ages 50 to 64 and fewer than half of adults under 50. Those under 30 stand out for being the only age group in which more people oppose banning the platform than support it (46% vs. 29%).

I can't say I'm very surprised but it's more that I assumed it was getting banned either way. I'd be interested to see the trend over time to see if there's been some manufacturing of consent.

I think that sort of support (especially since the GOP is onboard and not playing criticizing) basically gives the government all the cover they need to actually do it but we'll see.

I didn't look into it, but the word on the street is that the "Ban TikTok" bill is actually Patriot Act 2.0. If so, smart marketing on the part of the politicians because as jaded as I am, when I see "ban TikTok" my first reaction is positive.

That bill (Restrict) doesn't even have the support of the ones who proposed it. Then you have the Data act.

But there are multiple anti-tiktok bills and the one with actual support would ban it under the purview of existing laws.

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