Today in Focus Is TikTok about to go full Maga?
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Oct 3, 2025 Emily Baker-White, an investigative journalist and senior writer at Forbes specializing in tech policy, dives into the controversial deal to transfer TikTok’s US operations to Trump allies. She discusses TikTok's powerful algorithm and how it shapes user engagement, along with national security concerns stemming from its ties to China. Emily also explores political maneuvers for regulation and the implications of new ownership on content direction, revealing a complex landscape where media and politics intersect.
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TikTok’s Massive Cultural Reach
- TikTok reached about 170 million US users and influences more people than any single network.
- One in five Americans now use TikTok for news, making it a major political and cultural force.
Algorithm Learns From Behavior
- TikTok's For You algorithm infers preferences from behavior instead of explicit choices.
- That inference-driven feed makes the app unusually sticky and personally resonant for users.
Reporter Data Was Accessed Internally
- Baker-White describes how internal teams at ByteDance pulled reporter phone data to trace contacts and leaks.
- The company later investigated and fired employees involved after admitting the misuse.
