34 Comments
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Martha's avatar

Thank you so much I really like this format with several items summarized in one location!

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Aaron Parnas's avatar

Thank YOU!

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Haleya Priest's avatar

Agreed!!!! And thank you so much, Aaron 👍🏽

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Marci Mongeon's avatar

Out of necessity, I will be here. Thank you for supplying us information on something that is not Meta.

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Cynthia S's avatar

You the best Aaron!!! We appreciate your hardwork.

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Jennifer Proudfoot's avatar

Thank you Aaron. My one concern is they punt it to Trump, it will become a right wing place like Twitter. It makes me so sad to see so many lose their revenue streams.

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✨️Jess✨️'s avatar

Thank you Aaron for always keeping us in the know! Made an account on Rednote. Seems to be quite a few "TikTok refugees" there. I wonder if this will be a viable replacement 🤔

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AdamColeman's avatar

The TikTok Ban: A Psychological Power Play

Donald Trump’s handling of the TikTok ban is a textbook example of psychological manipulation targeting Gen Z. Here’s how the strategy worked:

1. Manufactured Crisis

By framing TikTok as a national security threat, Trump exploited the illusory truth effect—repeating a claim until it felt true. Targeting TikTok, a Gen Z cultural hub, triggered reactance psychology, where restrictions fuel rebellion, making his eventual reversal more impactful.

2. Perception of Power

Trump’s decision to lift the ban created the illusion he was more powerful than Congress. This leveraged the halo effect, positioning him as an independent disruptor, resonating with Gen Z’s distrust of traditional institutions.

3. Oversimplified Narratives

The ban boiled down to “Trump vs. Congress,” exploiting Gen Z’s reliance on quick, surface-level content. This relied on heuristics—mental shortcuts that simplified the issue, obscuring the deeper manipulation at play.

Takeaway for Gen Z

Trump’s TikTok manoeuvre reveals how easily emotional triggers and oversimplified narratives can be used to manipulate even the most skeptical generation. The solution? Stay critical, dig deeper, and question who benefits from the spectacle.

GQ

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Stephanie Traynor's avatar

Followed you over from t tok. Glad to be here

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leela pratt's avatar

Thank you Aaron. I have depended on you for years now.

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Stephanie Jo Dyer's avatar

Using strict scrutiny doctrine, do you really think they will allow this? How can they allow a law that forces sale though not profitable to private companies?

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Kiana's avatar

Ahh thanks Aaron for always updating us! Hopefully, we’ll have both Substack and TikTok.

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Kiana's avatar

Update Ed Markey is the GOAT - I hope his bill passes!

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Nurse_Power's avatar

Aaron be nice if you had a link for fans like me directing to become a “paid subscriber” at end of this summarization. Clicking on “manage subscription” doesn’t allow any actions. Great summarization T.Y.

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Dorothy Naimo's avatar

Just got here still learning to navigate the app. But so glad to find Aaron!!! 💙🇺🇸💙

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Jym Varnadore's avatar

People! A US tiktok ban doesn't mean the platform is shutting down. Add a VPN to your phone and set it for a different country. You'll still be able to use it

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Katrina VanTyne's avatar

Thank YOU!!!

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Malya Muth's avatar

Also, thoughts about Mark Zuckerberg in relation to the ban?

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Malya Muth's avatar

Aaron, can you comment on the need to delete the Tiktok app due to lack of updates and leaving security concerns?

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