This Week in Startups

Facebook funding anti-TikTok lobbyists with Taylor Lorenz + SEC SPAC crackdown, Fast vs. Bolt | E1422

Mar 30, 2022

In this engaging discussion, Taylor Lorenz, a Washington Post journalist renowned for her insights on social media, reveals how Facebook employed a GOP firm to undermine TikTok. She dives into the misinformation surrounding TikTok trends and their societal impacts, emphasizing the need for media literacy. The conversation shifts to regulatory challenges, including potential SEC crackdowns on SPACs. Finally, Lorenz critiques the startup landscape, highlighting struggles faced by companies like Fast while stressing the importance of sound business principles.

01:11:44

Creator website

Episode guests

Taylor Lorenz

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

Misinformation and TikTok Trends

5min

The Dark Side of Social Media Influence and Regulation

3min

TikTok: The Double-Edged Sword of Viral Misinformation

7min

Navigating the Social Media Landscape: TikTok, Facebook, and the Need for Media Literacy

3min

Navigating Social Media Misinformation

7min

The Importance of Understanding Online Influence and Cyber Insurance for Startups

2min

Navigating Journalism and Media in the Digital Age

23min

Navigating the Complexities of SPAC Regulations

4min

10.

Navigating SPACs and Startup Success

9min

11.

Creative Banter Over Startup Strategies

3min

First up, Taylor Lorenz joins to talk about her newest scoop for the Washington Post: Facebook hired a GOP firm to trash TikTok (2:18)! Then, we discuss the SEC considering cracking down on SPACs (39:40), lastly we cover Fast, a 500-person one-click checkout startup, reportedly generating less than $1M in revenue (1:01:14).

Read Taylor's Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/30/facebook-tiktok-targeted-victory/

Taylor Lorenz’s book: www.goodreads.com/book/show/58818667-extremely-online

FOLLOW Taylor: https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz
FOLLOW Jason: https://linktr.ee/calacanis
FOLLOW Molly: https://twitter.com/mollywood

(00:00) Jason and Molly intro the show
(02:18) Taylor Lorenz from the Washington Post on Facebook using Targeted Victory
(11:27) Coda - The All-in-one doc for teams, get a $1,000 credit at https://coda.io/twist
(12:41) Separating the legitimate concerns from fake stories
(21:03) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(22:21) Measuring the likelihood of TikTok being banned in the U.S.
(31:20) Embroker - Get an extra 10% off insurance for your business at https://Embroker.com/twist
(32:37) Should journalists be encouraged to build their own brands?
(39:40) SEC meeting TODAY (3/30/22) to discuss crackdown on SPACs, specifically allowing investors to SUE over “embellished projections”
(1:01:14) Bolt’s one-click checkout competitor “Fast” having trouble raising $100M at a $1B valuation, according to The Information