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On CBS "Face the Nation" last weekend both Mark Warner and Senator Rubio expressed concern about unknown algorithms targeting 150 million young users in America. The problem extends beyond that into the effects of TikTok and other social media that is harmful to children taking so much of their time that basic civics, reading, sports and exercise, outdoor activities, suffers enormously. No other generation has faced this and the US Congress and the White House have fallen far behind the curve of setting the rules and regulating use of the new information technologies. 

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President Trump says TikTok app would be banned in the U.S. after September 15. He said he had talked to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and told him Microsoft could buy the apps U.S. operations but if it does so a substantial portion of the price must go to the U.S. Treasury because of the approval of the deal the U.S. is giving after the review. He told Nadella "Look it can't be controlled for security reasons by China- too big,too invasive. Here's the deal, I don't mind whether its Microsoft or somebody else, a big company, a secure company, a very American company buy it."

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This Editorial Board opinion in WSJ says it supports the US Supreme Court decision upholding the law passed by US Congress on banning foreign adversary control of TikTok. DJT issued an Executive Order giving the president 75 days to study the situation about a sale of TikTok. Republicans in the US Senate say the president is required to follow the law set by Congress.

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Algorithm based media do poorly when it comes to mental health. This article in the WSJ series looks at how users can escape the algorithm when they feel it is harmful to their health, and whether this is possible.

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Amazon makes an offer to buy the whole of TikTok on April 1, 2025 before a April 1, 2025 deadline. A law passed in Congress in 2024 was upheld by the US Supreme Court requiring the sale of China based TikTok to American buyers for national security reasons or be closed to US users altogether. Amazon has connections to TikTok where TikTok users refer other users to products which can be bought on Amazon with revenue being passed on to influencers who get a cut on the transactions.

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In its decision on TikTok the US Supreme Court said-

"There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community."

 “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”

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People who are Mormon down to about 17.5 million - effects of social media and women questioning Church ideas and history. This leaves some women without the feeling of being part of a community.

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The need to increase the reading of non-fiction books. The problems with TikTok video, You Tube video and social media as distractions. Even Wikipedia reference is giving one bits and pieces of information. Only an effort to read and read books expands one's horizons and learning. The irony of getting a bachelor's degree at 22 years and then stopping reading except an occasional book across most of the people in the US, Europe, India and other nations.

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National security concerns over Tik Tok remain unresolved in the US.

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This report in the WSJ points out inflammatory content posted in India by Facebook that creates divisiveness in India between communtiies and ethnic groups, revealed in a WSJ Investigation. This comes at a time when the Indian government is focusing all its efforts and energies on building infrastructure and development projects under "sab ka vikas, sab ke saath, sab ka prayas, sab ka viswas," which means development for all, by all, with everyone's efforts, and with everyone's confidence." Polaraized content has no place in the country and its mission for development for all.  This report says the Indian government has threatened to jail employees of Facebook, its WhatsApp messaging service, and Twitter Inc. if they did'nt comply with data or take down requests, as reported in WSJ in February. The Indian government is determined to take action to prevent such content or content harmful to children being put out. In 2020 India banned TikTok and other social media platforms. Twitter was asked to block hundreds of accounts in India for posting what was seen as inflammatory material by the Indian government, according to this report. ...

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In France 67% of young people 15-17 years in a Acadomia survey support ban on under 15 years children for social media. A bill is being introduced in French parliament to restrict children under 15 year from social media platforms supported by the governing party. A French parliamentary inquiry into “the psychological effects of TikTok on minors”, was set up in Spring 2025, and the results have set off an alarm about the negative effects on children. The new law would apply to children in high school lycee 15 years to 18 years, as it is already in place for children 11-15 years in college French middle school. The bill will be debated in parliament on Jan 19, 2026 and has support of EPR Ensemble Macron's party and of 121 members of parliament. It also restricts use from 10 pm to 8am to support better sleep patterns for young people and for studies.