New article out with Dr. Crystal Abidin in Policy & Internet:

We analyze what happens when young people become internet-famous on TikTok—and neither legal protections nor platform policies are enough to address the risks they face.

The gaps are filled, unevenly, by the TikTok public.

think that this point right here is so, so central to what *socio*technical research can offer in this moment.

The backend “algorithm” is (sort of) an unknowable black box, but the stuff we can see is far more interesting and relevant.

This is what I get for making predictions.

In the meantime -- making the use of my daily Research API credits while I still can.

TikTok argues the public interest favors allowing the platform to continue operating while the Supreme Court reviews the case, preserving free speech protections.

TikTok predicts devastating consequences if the ban is enforced: loss of 170M U.S. users, massive revenue losses, and irreversible damage to its platform ecosystem.

TikTok argues the Act violates the Constitution’s Bill of Attainder Clause, which prohibits Congress from singling out individuals or entities for punishment without a judicial trial. This Act explicitly targets TikTok—banning it automatically without procedural protections/evidence of wrongdoing.

TikTok argues Congress didn’t consider less severe alternatives—like stronger data protection laws or transparency measures—before enacting a blanket ban.

Just after this last point, they specifically point to the incoming administration and the timing of the ban going into effect. Pretty interesting, given that CEO Shou Chew met with Trump yesterday. It's easy to imagine a wink-wink deal that Trump will handle things for them.

TikTok highlights the absence of evidence that China has misused the platform for data or content manipulation, arguing the government relies on speculative risks.

TikTok claims the ban violates its First Amendment rights. As a U.S.-based platform engaging in "expressive activity," it cannot be banned solely for its connection to ByteDance.

Here we go - injunction filed, now we wait and see if they grant it.

"This is the ongoing blind spot of the “AI is fake and sucks” crowd. This is the problem with telling people over and over again that it’s all a big bubble...They’re staring at the floor of AI’s current abilities, while each day the actual practitioners are successfully raising the ceiling."

SCENARIO 2 THREAD - THE TRUMP WORKAROUND:

1/6: For me -- feels like a classic case of the 'I'd like to see ol Donny Trump wriggle out of THIS jam' dynamic.