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TikTok's Vibe Shift

Feb 26, 2025

Taylor Lorenz, an internet culture expert and the author of "Extremely Online," joins to dissect the aftermath of TikTok's brief shutdown in the U.S. They explore the frenzy among users and the platform's shifting political landscape. Lorenz highlights TikTok's pivotal role in activism, especially for marginalized voices like those from Palestine, contrasting this with the conservative drift seen in other platforms. The conversation also delves into the challenges faced by creators and the broader implications for free speech in the digital age.

31:10

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Episode guests

Taylor Lorenz

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

TikTok's Tumultuous Return

13min

The Political Dynamics of TikTok and Palestine

2min

The Political Landscape Shift in Social Media

2min

Navigating Uncertainty: TikTok Creators in Crisis

8min

The Critical Role of TikTok in Modern Activism and Information Sharing

4min

On January 18, 2025, TikTok went down for U.S. users. After just 14 hours, it was back. Since then, questions have been swirling online. Has the algorithm changed? Was the ban just a ruse? Has TikTok gone… conservative? In this episode, internet culture expert Taylor Lorenz joins Morgan to break down the answers to those questions. They’ll dig into the real reasons for the ban and what the future holds for progressive speech on an internet that has been drifting steadily to the right.

Read the transcript here.

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